CRIME has suddenly become the biggest concern among Britons – apart from Brexit.

Opinion polls show law and order has shot up the agenda in just the past few weeks.

The latest “top issues tracker” for survey experts YouGov found that in the first week of March, 36 per cent of people questioned listed crime. And it was almost as high at 34 per cent last week.

It jumped from just 25 per cent in February, and as low as 7 per cent in 2016.

The rise means crime has now overtaken health as the second most important topic for the public, below leaving the EU, which 72 per cent now listed last week.

YouGov asked 1,500 respondents to name up to three of “the most important issues facing the country at this time”.

Chris Curtis, Research Manager at YouGov, said: “Not since the 2011 riots have Britons been so concerned about the issue.

“Crime now only sits behind Brexit as the main issue for the public and has overtaken other key issues, such as the economy, immigration and the NHS.”

The rise in public fears echoes soaring violent crime figures.

Latest statistics show the number of homicides rocketed by 14 per cent in the year to September while robbery and sex offences both went up by 14 per cent.

The nation was shocked by the horrific murder of 17-year-old scout Jodie Chesney in a park last month.

Louise Haigh, Labour’s spokesperson on crime, told The Sun last night: “It’s hardly surprising crime has jumped to be one of the top public concerns when we’re still losing officers off our streets in some areas of the country and violent crime is soaring.”

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