ALMOST 100 violent crimes are committed every day in Hampshire.

Figures revealed today show how the number, which includes attacks, cases of domestic violence and harassment, have soared across the county during the past year with 35,148 recorded in 2003/4 compared with 24,947 in 2002/03.

It means that last year 96 violent incidents a day were reported to the police compared with 68 for 2002/03, a massive rise of 53 per cent.

The statistics also show that last year there were a total of 178,543 crimes committed in the county - but almost three quarters of them have not been solved.

In Southampton alone violent crime, which also includes death by dangerous driving and assaults on police, has rocketed by 58 per cent from 4,244 in 2002/03 to 6,685.

In Eastleigh violent crimes soared by 97 per cent from 1,041 in 2002/03 to 2,051 recorded in 2003/04, making it the worst regional rise in the south-east.

Meanwhile, cases in Fareham almost doubled from 936 offences recorded in 2002/03 to 1,706 in 2003/04, and the Isle of Wight saw a 47 per cent rise from 1,628 to 2,394 in the same period.

In the New Forest violent crime went up 54 per cent from 1,417 in 2002/03 to 2,188 in 2003/04, while Winchester recorded one of the smallest rises in Hampshire - 25 per cent up from 988 in 2002/03 1,238 in 2003/04.

The increase has been blamed on the way the constabulary records crime in line with National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS).

Deputy Chief Constable Ian Readhead said: "It was widely recognised that the implementation of NCRS would have an inflationary effect on the crime count and it has.

"The biggest increase has been in offences on the lower end of the violent crime scale - such as harassment offences, which showed a rise of almost 135 percent.

"We had fewer murders - 22 in 2003/04 as opposed to 36 the previous year. Offences we would categorise as more serious violent crimes actually rose by only two per cent."

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham agreed the way the crimes have been recorded had skewed the figures. He said: "I think it would be wrong to worry people by saying the violence in Hampshire has gone dramatically up.

"The British Crime Survey out today that shows violent crime has not increased at all. Essentially the police have had to record minor crime in that category that previously they would not.

"Having said that I do believe that violence linked to alcohol and domestic violence are the main areas of concern. Great strides are being made in Hampshire to deal with domestic problems that have meant more people coming forward to report it.

"I am also a great supporter of levying extra charges on licensees to help with the policing of pubs and clubs in Southampton as it is not just the police that should have to deal with the effects of alcohol."

Southampton Superintendent Gareth Jones agreed that the alcohol link with violence needed addressing.

"Much of violent crime as we know is alcohol-induced, therefore licensees have a responsibility to ensure that they supply alcohol in a responsible manner.

"In turn those who are out for a night of fun also have a responsibility to ensure that their alcohol consumption does not result in criminal behaviour," he said.

On a positive note the figures also showed that burglaries across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight were among the lowest in the country with 18,014 being committed in the past 12 months - down from 18,217 the year before, and half that of the figure ten years ago.

A reduction was also seen year-on-year with the number of thefts of and from vehicles standing at 20,769 compared with 22,263 in 2002/03 - making Hampshire the eleventh lowest out of 43 forces for recording that particular crime.

However, figures also show that across Hampshire the number of all crimes committed over the past year was 178,543 but 73 per cent of them, 130,336, went unresolved.

One family who have felt the affects of a vicious beating that did not result in a conviction was that of David Wyatt of Lupin Road, Bassett.

The 31-year-old was left with horrific head injuries after being attacked with a baseball bat and is still paralysed, having had part of his skull removed as a result of the beating. His attackers have never been charged.

David's brother Jason Wyatt, said: "I think it just shows that people do think they live in a lawless society. I would say it is getting more violent.

"When I speak to people about David they are of the impression that people feel they can get away with this sort of violence."