CRIME levels have soared by more than 50 per cent in some parts of the UK as the latest stats show the country has seen it's biggest violent surge in 15 years.

As an epidemic of shootings, stabbings and moped muggings grips Britain, newly released figures reveal violence reported to cops in England and Wales rose by 14 per cent last year.

3 Two masked thugs armed with machetes threatened staff during a terrifying raid on a One Stop shop in Bury

Durham Police saw a staggering 58 per cent rise in violence, while forces in South Yorkshire followed close behind with a recorded increase of 57 per cent.

Kent Police had the third biggest rise in recorded violence as cops from that force noted a 47 per cent increase.

Elsewhere figures released by ONS were lower, but still up on the previous year.

Cheshire Police saw a rise of 43 per cent in violent crimes recorded and Devon and Cornwall's violence soared by 36 per cent.

3 This graphic highlights the areas which have seen the biggest surge in violent crimes year-on-year

UK'S RISE IN VIOLENCE - HOW SAFE IS YOUR COUNTY? The surge in crime by % across the UK from Dec 2016 to Dec 2017: NORTH EAST Cleveland 11% Durham 58% Northumbria 32% NORTH WEST Cheshire 43% Cumbria 15% Greater Manchester 53% Lancashire 26% Merseyside 17% YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER Humberside 21% North Yorkshire 10% South Yorkshire 57% West Yorkshire 24% EAST MIDLANDS Derbyshire 3% Leicestershire 34% Linconshire 11% Northamptonshire 11% Nottinghamshire 29% WEST MIDLANDS Staffordshire 14% Warwickshire 19% West Mercia 13% West Midlands 14% EAST Bedfordshire 13% Cambridgeshire 24% Essex 20% Hertfordshire 21% Norfolk 17% Suffolk 29% LONDON City of London -5% Metropolitan Police 4% SOUTH EAST Hampshire 11% Kent 47% Surrey 23% Sussex 15% Thames Valley 9% SOUTH WEST Avon and Somerset 6% Devon and Cornwall 36% Dorset 15% Gloucestershire 27% Wiltshire 5% WALES Dyfed-Powys 21% Gwent 25% North Wales 30% South Wales 12%

In just 12 months violence skyrocketed throughout the country, as the figures from December 2016 to December 2017 show crime has reached new and shocking levels.

The only police force in the Britain to see a reduction during that time period was the City of London police, who recorded five per cent less reported violence.

Violent crimes totalled 1.29million across the whole of the UK, up by a fifth on the year before.

They included 37,443 stabbings, the most since current records began.

Sex offences were up by a quarter and rapes by a third, while gun crime rose by a fifth.

3 Terrifying moment thief forces comedian Michael McIntyre, 42, to hand over watch on Monday as his son looks on

CRIME SURGE: THE 10 WORST AREAS Durham 58% South Yorkshire 57% Greater Manchester 53% Kent 47% Cheshire 43% Devon and Cornwall 36% Leicestershire 34% Northumbria 32% North Wales 30% Suffolk and Nottinghamshire 29% *Stats show the rise in violent crimes from Dec 2016 to Dec 2017 compared to the previous 12 months

Footage shows scene where man was seriously injured after being stabbed in rush-hour attack at Liverpool Street station

This comes as a separate survey showed police numbers had fallen to 121,929, the lowest since 1996.

Police figures released yesterday also revealed moped gangs are striking 60 times every day in London alone.

The capital has been hit with a surge in stabbings and shootings this year - and has a higher murder rate than New York for the first time ever.

While moped-related attacks across the UK have risen an astounding 1,000 per cent in the past three years.

The 19,000 attacks in 2017 have risen from just 1,053 in 2014, with the bikes themselves being stolen to use in the crimes.

This week comedian Michael McIntyre was mugged by knife-wielding thugs in front of his terrified son, 11, in Hampstead, North West London.

Michael McIntyre robbed by moped thugs

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Exclusive footage obtained by The Sun shows two black-clad riders menacing the 42-year-old comic moments after smashing the window of his £125,000 Range Rover on the school run at 2pm on Monday.

Last weekend two masked thugs were caught on camera smashing car windows with a huge machete and hammer as the driver cowered inside.

Police released CCTV images after an armed robbery at a shop in Bury, where two masked thugs armed with machetes threatened staff during a terrifying raid on a One Stop shop.

And yesterday footage emerged of teenage gangs wielding axes and hammers as they clashed outside a primary school.

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