Violent crime rose by 5 per cent last year, with young men most at risk of being attacked, according to government figures. Vandalism rose by 10 per cent to more than 2.9 million offences, more than half being attacks on vehicles.

The figures in the British Crime Survey were published yesterday, with separate statistics from police showing a 3 per cent rise in robberies. Those recorded by police were at the highest level for three years, at 101,300, of which 91,900 were crimes against the individual, such as street robbery.

Overall, crime in the British Crime Survey rose by 3 per cent to 11.2 million while offences recorded by the 43 police forces in England and Wales fell 2 per cent to 5.4 million.

Only 1.4 million crimes were detected and just 47 per cent of those resulted in a charge or summons. Almost a quarter of detections resulted in an offender receiving a caution, the Home Office figures show.

Violent crime involving injury rose by 3 per cent from 1.227 million to 1.27 million, and with no injury by 7 per cent from 1.1 million to 1.2 million, according to the British Crime Survey.

But violent crime recorded by the police fell by 1 per cent, including a 9 per cent fall in the most serious attacks. However, violence against the person where there was no injury rose by 6 per cent from 497,000 to 527,000.

Just over a third of the 2.4 million violent incidents reported in the survey were stranger violence, a third being acquaintance violence and 16 per cent incidents of domestic violence.

Home Office officials said that the increase in violent crime found by the British Crime Survey was not statistically significant.

Domestic burglary and theft recorded by police fell by 3 per cent and 4 per cent respectively, and vehicle crime fell by 4 per cent. These figures continue a long-term trend and reflect increased use of security devices for cars and household burglar alarms.

Sexual offences recorded by the police fell by 7 per cent to 57,542, including a fall of 5 per cent in rape of a female to 12,630. With the Government and the police focusing on action against trafficking for sexual exploitation, the figures rose from 33 to 43 offences – an increase of 30 per cent – and for sexual grooming from 237 to 322 offences, a 36 per cent increase.

It appeared that crime in England and Wales last year was broadly stable, Home Office officials said.

The risk of being a victim of crime increased marginally but was still considerably lower than the peak reported by the British Crime Survey in 1995.

The survey polls the experience of crime among those over 16.

Crime remains unevenly distributed throughout England and Wales, with Manchester, London and the West Midlands accounting for 62 per cent of robberies. The rate by population of serious wounding is more than three times the national average in Manchester, Liverpool, Newport in South Wales and Merthyr Tydfil.

Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, said: “I welcome the news that crime has remained stable over the last year. Violent crime has also remained stable, according to BCS figures; our work to tackle gun and knife crime is making a difference. Police-recorded statistics show that there has been a 13 per cent decrease in firearms offences. We must continue to work with communities to send out the message that we will not tolerate weapons on our streets.” Ms Smith added: “There is still much work to be done.”

David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, said that the rise in violent crime showed the Government’s “serial failure to protect the public” and accused ministers of acting “recklessly” on licensing reform.

From today, police are to have wider use of Taser stun guns, the Home Office has announced. They will still need to be facing violence or threats of violence before using the weapon.

From September, nonfirearms officers will also be allowed to use the weapon. Firearms officers in England and Wales had previously been permitted to use the weapon, which delivers a 50,000-volt shock, only in circumstances when they could have used a conventional firearm. A 12-month pilot scheme will begin in ten forces, allowing ordinary officers to carry Tasers after training.

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