Newly-released data has revealed a significant rise in the number of robbery and shoplifting offences in Hertfordshire.

A total of 74,608 offences were recorded by Hertfordshire police in the year ending March 2024, according to the data from the Office for National Statistics.

The figure includes 8,831 shoplifting offences and 866 robbery offences - increases of 25 per cent and 35 per cent respectively on the figures for the previous year.

There was also a significant increase in the number of death or serious injury by unlawful driving offences, with 63 recorded in the year - an increase of 66 per cent on the previous year.

Overall, the number of recorded crimes in Hertfordshire fell by two per cent. These were led by a 19 per cent decline in the number of public order offences (to 3,826), a ten per cent decline in the number of vehicle theft offences (to 6,924), and an eight per cent decline in theft from the person (to 982).

Nationally, the number of shoplifting offences recorded in England and Wales reached 443,995 in 2023-24, an increase of 30 per cent on the previous year and the highest figure since records began in 2002-03.

Yvette Cooper, home secretary in the new Labour government, said they "will put neighbourhood police back on the beat in our town centres, with stronger laws on knife crime, shoplifting and assaults on shop workers to keep our communities safe".

A Hertfordshire Constabulary spokesperson said: “Recorded crime remains low in Hertfordshire compared to national figures and a small reduction in crime is welcome. 

"However, the constabulary remains focussed on areas where increases in crime have occurred and has robust and active plans to tackle these issues – many of which are mirrored nationally.”