CRITICS last night criticised the latest crime statistics for claiming that violent crime in the North-East was among the lowest in the country.

The Government figures - unveiled today - were criticised by victim support campaigners who claim that the region is still one of the worst areas for crime in the country.

The figures show that last year the number of car thefts was below the national average and violent crime in the North-East was the lowest in England and Wales.

However, the North-East had the highest rate of burglary in England and Wales, at almost double the national average, followed closely by Yorkshire and Humberside.

Recorded violence against people in the region rose by 20 per cent compared with a national rise of eight per cent.

Critics claim the controversial figures do not paint a true picture.

They believe that the figures are far higher because many victims, disillusioned by the apparent ineffectiveness of police to catch the culprits, no longer bother to report minor crime.

David Hines, of the North of England Victims Association, said: "If the figures say that crime in the North-East isn't as bad as elsewhere, then they are wrong.

"I don't think people in the region will be misled by the figures when they see the evidence of crime every day on their doorsteps.

"People seem to be losing faith in the police and not reporting the crimes. I think these figures are just playing with numbers and words."

He added that the North-East remained one of the worst areas for murder and manslaughter.

Last night, Home Office Minister John Denham pledged to help the North-East with its soaring burglary rates.

He said: "We can do this by targeting persistent offenders and dealing with drugs problems, which are often linked to property crime.

"If we do these things, we can get burglary down in the North-East."

Ron Hogg, deputy chief constable of Durham Police, blamed the increases on a new way of calculating the statistics, which was implemented this year.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said that its figures put the area on a level with other urban areas.

He said: "We are not hiding behind the fact that the statistics are being calculated a different way.

"Our problem is the drugs menace, which is responsible for a large majority of crime in Cleveland."

Peter Walker, deputy chief constable of North Yorkshire Police, said: "North Yorkshire is still one of the safest counties in the country and we remain committed to maintaining that quality of life for our residents."