THE dramatic rise in crime figures comes in a week when Hertfordshire's chief constable is warning that the force faces a recruitment crisis that could leave it 200 officers short.

Chief Constable Paul Acres told the Hertfordshire Police Authority that the recent Metropolitan Police pay rise left some Hertfordshire officers being paid £6,000 a year less than their London counterparts.

He said the number and standard of applicants had fallen and the county could be 200 officers short within two years when the 186 Metropolitan officers seconded to the county after recent boundary changes go back to their own force.

The force aims to recruit 25 officers every five weeks and is currently 36 constables, 18 sergeants and six inspectors short.

Figures released by the Government this week show Hertfordshire had one of the highest crime rises in the country, but still maintains one of the lowest crime rates in the country.

The overall seven per cent increase sees the weekly crime figure up to 1,014 for the year ending March 2000.

Muggers targeting young people with mobile phones and small amounts of cash have been partly responsible for the dramatic rise.

Despite the increase, Mr Acres said: 'These latest statistics are good news for Hertfordshire. With its low crime rate, our county continues to be a safe place to live and work.'

But he said there was room for improvement.

A police spokesman said most robberies involve small amounts of cash and many have young people as the victims.

She said the force had already seen some success in its crackdown.

Although the number of robberies went up by 68 per cent from 250 to 420 in the last year, they still account for less than one per cent of total crime.

The chances of Hertfordshire Constabulary clearing up a particular crime is low at an overall 27 per cent, although clear-up rates for crimes of violence are higher.

In St Albans police division, which includes Harpenden, officers solved 359 of the 412 offences of violence against the person.

Some 66 per cent of the 47 reported sexual offences were cleared up and 38 per cent of the 55 reported robberies were solved.

But clear-up rates of 38 per cent for 707 domestic burglaries, 25 per cent of the 521 thefts of motor vehicles and just 11 per cent of the 1,733 car break-ins left the overall figures low.

Outlining action being taken to overcome the recrutiment crisis on Friday, Mr Acres said a comprehensive plan is being implemented, which addresses a variety of issues including pay and allowances, housing and advertising.

'I want to do everything possible to keep the officers already serving in Hertfordshire and attract more people to consider policing as a career, so that we can maintain the high standard of service to the public,' he said.

Talks are being held between Mr Acres and his colleagues in other Home Counties forces.

Meanwhile, Mr Acres announced that an extra 45 officers funded by the Government's crime fighting fund will be seen on the beat in the next two years. Five will be stationed at St Albans.