THE level of crime in Wrexham has increased by almost a quarter in the last year, it has been revealed.

Recorded crime went up by 24 per cent during 2017/18 with the number victim based crimes rising from 839 in 2016/17 to 1,024.

However, offences relating to shoplifting, burglary, theft, and robbery went down from 378 to 370 in the same period.

According to a report set to be debated by county councillors, the reason for the overall increase was because of changes to how crime is recorded rather than an increase in offending.

Wrexham Council leader Mark Pritchard said: "Analysis has evidenced that this is an increase in crime recording effectiveness rather than an increase in offending.

"The improvement in recording crime is linked to the increased emphasis on the use of a risk management tool, the introduction of which matches the timing of the increase in recorded crime.

"Police recording processes have changed so that if several separate crimes are identified within one report, e.g. a domestic violence report which when reported includes two other incidents over the preceding week, they are now recorded individually whereas previously they would have been recorded as a single crime.

"Acquisitive crime levels continue to improve and have not been impacted on by the change in crime recording processes."

The report also highlights a 25 per cent increase in the number of fly tipping incidents in Wrexham during the last three years.

It also shows that less than 62 per cent of rubbish dumped is cleared within five working days, compared to the national average of 95 per cent.

The authority is currently clearing incidents within an average of more than six days.

The council said it plans to address the issue by improving its use of technology and improving the consistency and accuracy of its data.