VIOLENT and sexual crimes have soared in Salisbury over the past five years, according to the latest police figures.

Last year, more than two violent or sexual crimes were recorded in the city every day, on average.

The figures show an increase of 60 per cent in violent or sexual crimes since 2011, from 521 to 831 in 2015.

Last June, a five-year high of 85 violent or sexual crimes were recorded in Salisbury.

But that record has been broken twice in 2016 already, with 86 in January and 96 in February.

Figures for March and April are not yet available.

Sector commander David Minty said the figures, published online at police.co.uk, did not give the full picture, and people were not more likely to be attacked in the street.

“We need to be clear what is new and increased crime and what is improved recording," Inspector Minty said.

Although reported violent and sexual crimes were up 60 per cent, the number of calls regarding violent and sexual offences had actually fallen 11 per cent, he said.

“Improved crime recording has a great deal to do with the increase in recorded crime."

And he said more than a third of the sexual crimes reported between May 2015 and April 2016 were allegedly committed historically, demonstrating “improved confidence that the police take these crimes very seriously”.

More than two-thirds of the sex crimes and more than half the 16 GBH offences recorded in Salisbury in the past year were allegedly committed by someone known to the victim.

And almost half (48 per cent) of the actual bodily harm offences reported last year happened in private.

Insp Minty said that while domestic violence was “clearly horrendous” and there was a lot of work for police to do, context was really important and it did “reduce significantly your chance of being assaulted whilst out in Salisbury”.

Insp Minty said: “From the perspective of a member of public living in Salisbury I think this deeper detail could potentially make a big difference.

“I believe that Salisbury is a safe city, particularly when compared with others of a similar size.”

'Violence without injury' reports have increased by more than three-quarters (76 per cent) since 2011, while grievous bodily harm has reduced by over a third (36 per cent).