THE latest Home Office figures have reinforced fears about rising violent crime in Dorset.

The Home Office has today published figures for a whole year for the first time - previously the official figures were released every six months.

The new figures show crime for the period from October 1999 to September 2000. They show that a total of 3,918 offences of violence against the person were committed in Dorset during that period. The figures also show there were 314 sexual offences, 276 robberies and 3,379 burglaries in the county.

In Weymouth and Portland 655 offences of violence against the person were committed, compared with 303 in West Dorset and 183 in Purbeck.

There were 38 sexual offences, 28 robberies and 265 burglaries in Weymouth and Portland compared with 27 sexual offences, seven robberies and 325 burglaries in West Dorset and 12 sexual offences, two robberies and 138 burglaries in Purbeck.

A total of 2,657 offences of theft of a motor vehicle were committed throughout the county and there were 8,157 thefts from vehicles.

Assistant chief constable, operations, of Dorset Police, Chris Lee, expressed concern about rising violent crime, but said Dorset remained one of the safest places to live.

He said: "These figures show that Dorset continues to be one of the safest counties in England and Wales.

"Dorset's crime figures are showing an increase in violent crime, in common with the rest of the country, and that is a disturbing trend.

"We are countering it with various tactics, including high profile operations that put officers into known trouble spots."

He added: "Most victims of violent crime are young men and alcohol is involved in many of these incidents."

Concerns over spiralling violent crime were also expressed in July last year when the Home Office released six-monthly crime figures.

The county saw a steep rise in violent assaults, which jumped by almost a quarter - the increase was steeper than the national rise of 15 per cent.

Chief inspector of the western division, Ann Freeman, said at the time that police patrols in towns in the division had been strengthened to reflect the increase.

A new closed circuit television (CCTV) scheme for Weymouth town centre is being launched today.

Work is starting on the £500,000 scheme which will have 23 fully functional colour cameras in operation and a central monitoring centre staffed 24 hours a day as part of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's crime-busting strategy.

After a 16-week work programme CCTV will provide comprehensive coverage of the town from the railway station to the old harbour and from the esplanade and beach to the inner harbour area by spring 2001.