ALMOST one in seven crimes reported in the Thames Valley are going unrecorded, according to a new inspection report out today.

Her Majesty’s Inspection of Constabulary has conducted a review of the way forces record crime data, with the national average of under-recording of crime almost one in five.

The survey was the most extensive analysis of crime recording ever carried out, focusing on the period between November 2012 and October 2013.

It found that in the inspection period police were found to be less likely to record violent and sexual offences as crimes than other types of crimes.

And on average nationally over a quarter of sexual offences and a third of violent crimes reported were not recorded as a crime.

In the Thames Valley, auditors found that out of 139 crimes reported directly from the victim Thames Valley Police only recorded 118 as crimes, and six of these were wrongly classified.

It also recorded 88 cases of rape, violence and robbery as ‘no-crimes’ and the HMIC assessed 79 of these no-crime decisions to be correct.

Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Sara Thornton said: "Overall, the report is positive as it shows the police recording of crime can be trusted in the Thames Valley.

"This is reflected in the fact that crime in the force area is at its lowest in 25 years.”

She added that the report painted a “mixed picture” nationally, with not all forces recording crime accurately, leading to 800,000 crimes reported to the police going unrecorded.