CRIME has soared by almost a fifth in part of the North-East, according to new figures.

But bosses at Northumbria Police say the rise, in Tyne and Wear, is down to a change in the way that crime is recorded.

The number of reported offences in the force area rose by 19 per cent in the last financial year.

A total of 165,496 incidents were recorded as crimes during 2002-03, compared with 139,130 the previous year.

It follows the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard, which means more minor assaults and reports of damage are recorded as crimes.

Northumbria Police Chief Constable Crispian Strachan said: "We are confident that the reality of crime on the street and in people's homes is unchanged. Lawlessness is not on the increase."

Common assault more than doubled, an increase of 118 per cent. Robbery rose by 55 offences from 1,387 to 1,442 - an increase of four per cent. Theft from motor vehicles rose by 5.7 per cent and criminal damage was up by 24 per cent.

But the number of incidents reported to police actually fell from 574,252 to 565,166. The overall rise masks continued reductions in car thefts and burglary.

Recent half-year figures showed that the risk of becoming a victim of crime is lower in the Northumbria Police area than in any other urban region in the UK.

Arrests in the period April 2002 to February this year are up by 6,450 - from 74,521 to 80,971 - and the number of detections rose from 43,768 to 51,715.

The number of arrests for drugs offences rose from 4,804 to 6,040, an increase of 25.7 per cent, as a result of targeted activity against suppliers. Officers also seized more than £750,000 of drugs.