The number of reported violent crimes, robberies, sexual offences and shoplifting incidents in Canterbury last year were the highest on record.

There were also a greater number of people caught with weapons – which can include knives, guns and acid – than any other year. The data from the Office for National Statistics runs back to 2003.

Police chiefs blamed the increase on “the phenomenon of county lines organised crime”.

The number of reports of violence with injury – which includes assault, GBH and wounding – has rocketed 89% in Canterbury over the past five years, from 877 reports in 2013 to 1,666 in 2018.

Meanwhile, violence without injury – which includes modern slavery, cruelty to children and kidnapping – has more than trebled during the same period, from 763 reports to 2,797.

Robberies increased year-on-year from 139 to 152 – as did sex offences from 595 to 672 and shoplifting from 1,217 to 1,370.

There were 126 weapons possession offences in Canterbury in 2018, up 77% on 2017. It comes after Kent was revealed last month to have the fastest growing rate of knife crime in the country.

Deputy Chief Constable Tony Blaker said: “In Kent, in common with forces across the country, we have seen an increase in the number of violent offences.

“This may look concerning but it is important to note that a large proportion of this rise has been driven by an increase in cases of violence without injury.

“However, it is true to say that Kent has been affected by the phenomenon of violent county lines organised crime.

“As can be seen by our recent county-wide enforcement action against violent and knife crime, we will not tolerate the actions of this criminal element who think nothing of carrying and using knives against each other and innocent members of the public.”

Other crimes such as criminal damage were down year-on-year. There was a 1% drop in theft.

But between 2017 and 2018, drugs-related offences rose by 20%. Some 699 residential burglaries were reported.

In total, 16,433 crimes were recorded in Canterbury in 2018, up 12%.

DCC Blaker added: “We continue to work hard to increase the confidence of communities in our ability to accurately record and investigate crimes reported to us and the rises can in part be attributed to that work.

“Crimes can be reported to us in various ways, including online and via third parties, and we have been graded as outstanding by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services for our crime data integrity.

“The force is also working hard on education and intervention in the last year with police officers, Police Community Support Officers and volunteer police cadets regularly visiting schools, colleges and youth clubs to encourage young people to make better life choices.”

Criminals from major cities such as London have been expanding their drug networks into Kent. The crime is called county lines because a single telephone number is used to order drugs, operated from outside the area.

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