The number of people caught with guns and knives in Cornwall has increased by a third, according to the latest police figures.

There were 280 weapons possession offences in 2019, data from the Office for National Statistics shows. These can include guns, knives and even corrosive acid.

That figure is up 33 per cent on 2018, when 210 incidents were recorded.

Overall police recorded crime in Cornwall slightly decreased in 2019.

Over the period, 28,305 crimes were recorded, down by three per cent on 2018.

That means there was a rate of 50 crimes per 1,000 residents during 2018-19, below the England and Wales average of 89.

The figures show that Devon and Cornwall as a policing area had the second lowest reported crime rate in England and Wales.

The ONS data showed crime in the Devon and Cornwall Police area had reduced by 3.3 per cent during the 12 month period to the end of December 2019, against a national rise of four per cent.

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

Separate figures are also collected from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, which asks people about their experiences of crime, and which the ONS says can provide a better picture of some offences.

Joe Traynor, from the ONS Centre for Crime and Justice, said: "Information collected prior to the coronavirus pandemic from the Crime Survey for England and Wales estimates a fall of five per cent in crime for 2019.

"It is not possible to say whether this would have come to represent a change from the flat trend in recent years, as it is likely that the current lockdown will have an impact on the level of crime in 2020.

“The 2019 data revealed different patterns for specific types of crime, for instance, robbery increased but burglary decreased, while fraud and lower-harm violent offences remained stable.

"Although the number of homicides where a knife or sharp instrument was used fell across the country, it increased in London.”

Devon and Cornwall Police Deputy Chief Constable, Paul Netherton, said: “We’ve always known that our force area is one of the safest in the country, as well as the most beautiful, but to have that confirmed by data over a year long period is great news for our communities.

“The figures show just how hard our officers and staff are working to keep our communities safe and reduce crime.

“While crime figures are only one area of performance we measure, my hope is our communities will feel reassured that we are working with them and partners to reduce crime and the fear of crime."

Referring to the rise in drugs offences and possession of weapons, he added: "To see rises in these areas is a tribute to proactive and diligent policing.

“These excellent results show our work targeting county line gangs, where vulnerable children and young adults are recruited to deal drugs, is having an effect.

“We are sending a clear message to the criminals behind these gangs that we absolutely will not tolerate their activities. So far they have racked up over 400 years of jail time, with plenty more to come.”

In Cornwall, there were two homicides, which are murders or manslaughters. There were 14 cases of death or injury by dangerous driving.

Criminal damage in Cornwall, which includes arson and vandalising cars and houses, has gone up, from 4,364 incidents in 2018, to 4,409 in the latest figures.

While violence with injury, which includes assault, GBH and wounding, has risen, this could be due to improved police recording.

Similarly sexual offences are hard to judge as many more victims are now coming forward due to a series of high profile cases.

In Cornwall, there were 1,246 incidents recorded last year, a one per cent decrease on the previous year, when 1,255 crimes were reported.

There were also 2,872 cases of stalking and harassment reported over the same period.