RURAL crime across Bedale and the Dales is down although violence is still an issue, councillors have been told.

The end of year report by Inspector Geoff Crocker revealed shoplifting, burglary of houses and non dwellings is down along with vehicle crimes.

Shoplifting was down six offences to 15 with burglary of dwellings down to 17 and vehicle crime down 24 to 39 offences.

In the report, presented to Bedale Town Council, Inspector Crocker said: ”Over the past quarter we have run four cross border initiatives linked to an increase in participation from our border watches.

"The lock it or lose it campaign has continued well in Leyburn with Bedale picking up. Of 82 visits recorded sadly 53 per cent were found with unlocked vehicles on farms and twenty per cent with keys in the ignition.

“We have also invoked Operation Anchor across the school holidays to protect our closed schools. We will continue with farm checks increasing activity around metal and cat converter theft in the spring.“

He said violence with injury offences are up from 28 to 40 and violence without injury offences up from 20 to 38 a rise of 90 per cent.

Insp Crocker added: “Violence is still an issue with figures for injury offences remaining higher than normal. We are continuing our work with the Independent Domestic Abuse Service .

"Officers have recently pushed the Christmas anti domestic abuse campaign with a large number of licensed premises participating."