Crime has risen in four of Sheppey’s six wards, according to the latest figures.

The figures, which are available on the Kent Police website, are from September to November 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.

They reveal that Minster Cliffs had the biggest rise in overall crime, from 102 to 127.

Sheppey Central rose from 141 to 152; Leysdown and Warden rose from 87 to 98 and Sheerness West rose from 187 to 197.

However, there was a drop in overall crime for Sheerness East from 194 to 149 and for Queenborough and Halfway from 143 to 125.

A further breakdown of the figures shows that although Sheppey Central’s overall crime rose, there was a drop in most types of crimes, but there was a large increase in anti-social behaviour, from 73 to 113.

Anti-social behaviour also rose in Minster Cliffs, from 63 to 100, but decreased or stayed the same in the other four wards.

Violent crimes saw an increase in Sheerness West (from 41 to 47) and Minster Cliffs (from 16 to 18) but fell in the rest of the wards, with the biggest drop in Sheerness East from 53 to 27.

There were two robberies in Sheerness West, one in Sheerness East, but none in Queenborough, Halfway, Sheppey Central, Leysdown and Warden and Minster Cliffs.

Burglary saw a rise in half of the wards (Sheerness West, Leysdown and Warden and Queenborough and Halfway) and a fall in the other half – with the biggest rise in Leysdown and Warden from 15 to 34.

The biggest drop in burglaries was in Sheppey Central where there were 12 in the three months in 2010 compared to 25 in 2009.

Vehicle crime saw in a drop in most of the wards, except Sheerness West where it rose from 10 to 11 and in Sheerness East where it stayed the same at 12.

Queenborough and Halfway had the biggest drop in vehicle crime, where it fell from 11 to five.

Police borough commander, Ch Insp Tony Henley said: “While the figures for the four wards in Sheppey are disappointing, I do believe we are doing all the right things to improve people’s quality of life on the Island.

“Fighting crime is not just about the police, but working with our partners too.

“We have run a number of dedicated operations to tackle crime including drug misuse in pubs across the area in December.

“For this year we plan to roll out an initiative to catch opportunists and serial shoplifters.

“I know some people might be concerned regarding anti-social behaviour, but I can assure residents that we are doing everything we can to tackle this issue.

“Our commitment to making Sheppey a better place remains at an all-time high and we will continue, along with our partners, to do this to the best of our ability.”