The Ashfield Partnership Against Crime statistics show violent incidents in Kirkby rose from 93 reported offences to 101 incidents between April 2007 and March this year.

But violent attacks dropped significantly in Sutton and fell from 227 to 152 reported incidents over the last year.

Overall crime in Kirkby was cut, with the figures showing house burglaries fell from 55 to 48 reported crimes during the same time period –– while theft of motor vehicles dropped from 30 incidents to 23 and criminal damage from 212 to 197 reported incidents.

House burglaries increased in Sutton from 79 break-ins to 110, while criminal damage rose from 328 incidents to 373 and theft from motor vehicles went up from 129 offences to 177.

Partnership officer Chris Thompson told Chad getting to grips with alcohol-related crime was a major priority for the partnership.

"There has been a marked improvement in the violent crime rate across the district in the past year," he said.

"Alcohol-related violence accounts for a big proportion of the problem, so we are carrying out high visibility patrols at peak times when revellers are in town.

"Fixed penalty notices are issued for drunk and disorderly behaviour to curb violence before it has chance to escalate and it is having a positive effect.

"Criminal damage has an unsightly impact on neighbourhoods and it is also a priority for APAC. To combat the problem, high visibility patrols and clean-up operations are being run to remove graffiti and rectify vandalism as soon as it is reported.

"Reducing auto crime and burglary is also high on our agenda with increased beat patrols with Neighbourhood Wardens, and a specialist unit on more evenings and at night patrols to target offenders."