Hastings is one of the top crime hot spots in Britain, show figures out today.

More than 21 offences per 1,000 population were recorded last year, more than double the county's average and in line with places like central London and Manchester.

Hastings, once an up-market seaside resort, came off badly in the latest Home Office statistics.

It has one of the worst rates of vehicle crime in England and Wales and the number of violent and sexual offences is also among the highest Brighton and Hove was close behind with 16.4 crimes per 1,000, compared to just 6.3 in Horsham.

Overall in Sussex, there were 136,566 crimes in the year ending in March, 4.7 per cent up on the previous year.

The force highlighted more positive figures - the crime detection rate is slightly up compared to the national downward trend - and there was a 13 per cent reduction in burglaries, double the national average.

Thefts of and from cars were also slightly down and the overall crime increase was one of the lowest in the South East.

Margaret Johnson, chairman of the Sussex Police Authority, said she was pleased with the progress being made.

Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse said: "People in Sussex can take heart from front page from these statistics but there is still much work to be done."

The new figures show there were nearly 17,000 crimes of violence last year in Sussex and more than 1,000 sex offences.

There were almost 20,000 burglaries, 1,000 robberies, 59,000 cases of theft and handling stolen property, 8,615 cases of fraud, 26,000 incidents of vandalism, 2,300 drug offences, and more than 38,000 vehicle crimes.

The detection rate in Sussex of 25 per cent was unchanged from last year and down on the 29 per cent recorded in 1995-96. The 25 per cent is in line with the national average.

In Mid Sussex there were nearly 1,000 incidents of violence (7.6 per 1,000 population), 50 sex offences, 30 robberies, nearly 400 burglaries, and 1,200 car crimes.

Crawley's record of violence was high.

There were 2,000 incidents (20 per 1,000 population) and there were 85 sex offences.

There were also 110 robberies, 533 burglaries and 1,700 car crimes. Horsham had 764 cases of violence (6.3 per 1,00 population, 61 sex offences, nearly 400 burglaries, and 900 car crimes.

Worthing: 1,200 crimes of violence (12 per 1,000 population), 68 sex attacks, 81 robberies, 600 burglaries, 1,600 car crimes.

Lewes: 690 crimes of violence (8 per 1,000), 46 sex attacks, 29 robberies, 500 burglaries, 1,300 car crimes.

Eastbourne: 1,300 crimes of violence (14.4 per 1,000), 80 sex attacks, 680 burglaries, 1,600 car crimes.

Hastings: 1,800 crimes of violence (21.6 per 1,000), 130 sex attacks, 134 robberies, 1,100 burglaries, 3,800 car crimes.

Chichester: 800 crimes of violence (7 per 1,000), 88 sex attacks, 27 robberies, 480 burglaries, 1,500 car crimes.

Rother: 600 crimes of violence (6.3 per 1,000), 46 sex attacks, 26 robberies, 500 burglaries, 1,100 car crimes.

Wealden: 780 crimes of violence (5.5 per 1,000), 42 sex attacks, 31 robberies, 500 burglaries, 1,300 car crimes.

Adur: 523 crimes of violence (9 per 1,000), 38 sex attacks, 24 robberies, 344 burglaries, 630 car crimes.

Arun: 1,400 crimes of violence (10 per 1,000), 94 sex attacks, 60 robberies, 775 burglaries, 2,100 car crimes.

A 15-year-old boy has admitted 22 offences after his DNA sample linked him to 15 burglaries.

In another DNA success, a sample placed an offender at the scene of 27 crimes in Sussex and neighbouring counties.

Sussex Police made 447 DNA matches during 1999-2000 and they expect the number to almost double to 800 in the current year.

Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse said the recent decision to DNA test everyone arrested in Sussex for any recordable offence was paying dividends.

He said it was proving so effective that an offender may think twice about continuing a life of crime.

Mr Whitehouse, in a report to the Sussex Police Authority, said scientific support can never replace policing at ground level.

But he added: "However, this enhanced ability to link known offenders to the scenes of their crimes greatly increases the likelihood of them being arrested.

"Forensic science offers us powerful support not only in our drive to increase detections but in crime reduction, as the active criminal becomes aware of its power."