THE number of people caught with guns and knives in Oxford has increased by more than a third, according to the latest police figures.

There were 174 weapon possession offences in 2019, data from the Office for National Statistics shows. These include guns, knives and even corrosive acid.

The figure is up 36 per cent on 2018, when 128 incidents were recorded.

Overall, police in Oxford recorded a slight increase in crime in the year. Over the period, 16,567 crimes were recorded, up by 3per cent on 2018.

That means there is a crime for at least one in every 10 residents in Oxford, well above average for England and Wales.

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The statistics are based on crimes reported to the police, and the ONS urges caution in interpreting some of these figures.

In Oxford, there have been four homicides, which are murders or manslaughters.

Across England and Wales, the number of recorded homicides fell by 8per cent, to 670.

Theft, one of the most high volume crimes, increased by 3per cent in Oxford. Drugs related offences dropped by 17per cent.

Criminal damage in Oxford, which includes arson and vandalising cars and houses, has gone down, from 1,519 incidents in 2018, to 1,345 in the latest figures.

In Oxford, there were 587 incidents recorded last year, a 13per cent rise on the previous year, when 520 crimes were reported.

There were also 733 cases of stalking and harassment reported over the same period.