Crime in Oxford has fallen marginally, but robberies and burglaries have spiralled in the past year, new figures reveal.

There were 1,116 burglaries in Oxford between April 1 last year and March 31, compared to 982 the previous year - a 13.6 per cent rise - and there were 294 robberies, compared to 263 in the previous year (up 15.7 per cent).

But overall crime in the city has dropped - by just 0.5 per cent, which is just over one offence fewer a week.

Chief Supt David McWhirter, Oxfordshire police commander, said: "Over the last five years the number of burglaries in Oxford has come down to three per day.

"Robbery has gone up by 40 over the last year, which is less than one per week and isn't significant in my view.

"Oxfordshire is a safe county in terms of the crime categories we are looking at."

Mr McWhirter said drives like the ongoing Operation Backlash had been launched in Oxford to clamp down on criminals.

He did not agree with research by insurance firm Endsleigh, which rated Oxford one of the five worst places for burglaries. He said: "The figures we go by are the recorded figures, audited by the Home Office. Oxford is not a problem area for burglaries.

"Most crimes are committed by a tiny population of individuals.

"We have become good at identifying those offenders and have got support mechanisms, Drug Action Teams and youth offending teams.

"It is not just about catching them and putting them before the courts. The real long-term challenge is to change their behaviour."

Criminal damage is the biggest problem in the city, with 3,099 incidents reported to city police over the last year, and 2,981 the previous year.

Mr McWhirter said: "We have come through the change to licensing laws without the violence on the street but we are seeing low-level criminal damage.

"Part of it is late-night drunken yobs on their way home damaging a car.

"Also in Oxford city some criminal damage can relate to animal rights people using graffiti and gluing locks to cause disruption at the university.

"We have plans for dealing with criminal damage, including the roll-out of neighbourhood policing and seeing the community and other agencies dealing with the problem."

Despite only a slight decrease in overall crime, the city has beaten its crime reduction target for the year - 11,824 - as there were 11,681 crimes committed.

Supt Jim Trotman said: "As local police commander for the city it is my responsibility with my officers and staff to work hard to make Oxford a safer place to live and work.

"If you commit crime in Oxford my message is absolutely clear: the police and partners will work tirelessly to catch you and stop you from doing so again."

As reported in yesterday's Oxford Mail, wounding by domestic violence has increased by 42.4 per cent across Oxfordshire. Police did not have specific figures for Oxford.

They said the increase was a success because it meant victims were reporting domestic violence when traditionally they had been reluctant to come forward.

Det Insp Kath Lowe, in charge of the force's domestic violence unit, said: "We have changed the way we worked in domestic violence and coupled that with publicity campaigns so people are feeling more comfortable in coming forward and talking to the police."

Forty-nine people have been arrested and 194 people stopped and searched during Operation Backlash.