Crime has fallen by more than 25% over the last eight years in Suffolk – but went up by 13.3% in the year ending June 2015, new figures have shown.

Police recorded crime figures, released by the Office for National Statistics, showed the number of offences in the county fell from 54,974 in the year ending June 2007 to 40,613 in the year ending June 2015 – a fall of 26.1%.

The figure stood at 35,857 in the year ending June 2014.

County Policing Commander Chief Superintendent Terry Byford, of Suffolk Constabulary, said: “Crime trends fluctuate from year to year and there are numerous reasons for this. While the number of crimes recorded this year are up on the same period in 2014, over an eight-year period the trend of crime overall is down – in line with the picture nationally.”

Broken down, the figures showed an increase of 69.2% in the number of sexual offences between the year ending June 2014 and the year ending June 15 – from 793 to 1,342. In July, campaigners praised sex offence victims in Suffolk for speaking to police after similar Home Office figures showed sexual offences rose from 731 in 2013/14 to 1,178 in 2014/15.

Chief Sup Byford said: “The increases in crime over the past year are down to factors including an increase in the number of sexual offences being reported following high-profile cases, such as that of Jimmy Savile.

“In some areas, crime increases can be positive as it demonstrates victims of crimes such as historic sexual abuse and domestic violence are finding the courage and confidence to talk to police, meaning they could get justice or the support they need after many years of suffering in silence.”