REDDITCH MP Karen Lumley has said she is shocked and saddened at the increase in reported rape cases and vowed to do whatever she can to stamp out "this disgraceful behaviour".

The Advertiser reported last week that the number of rapes reported to West Mercia Police has surged a whopping 75 per cent in a year - with the chief constable calling it a major concern.

The MP's comments also come after two separate instances of men being recently arrested in connection with rape - one a teenager at the Kingfisher Shopping Centre, and one following an incident at the Traders Arms in Bromsgrove Road.

Shock data has revealed how rape reports have leapt to nearly 700 in one 12 month period.

A new report from police and crime commissioner Bill Longmore revealed how in the 2014/15 year, to the end of March, 697 rapes were reported to the force, compared to 395 in 2013/14.

And overall, reports of sexual offences shot up 44 per cent from 897 to 1,295 - a worrying trend which the force is investigating.

A third of the complaints, some 27 per cent, were based on incidents more than 12 months old, with Chief Constable David Shaw saying he believes the publicity around Jimmy Savile had an impact.

But he also says the data is climbing anyway.

Between April and June this year 238 rapes were reported to police, meaning the headline figure would hit 952 if the trend continues.

Mr Shaw said: "The Savile effect has certainly had an impact, we've seen people who haven't come forward forward for many, many years come forward.

"But I'm also pretty sure there's a general rise in sexual offences as well, it is without doubt the area which has attracted the most additional resources from us."

Speaking during a recent meeting of the police and crime panel at County Hall, he called it a "fairly dramatic and troubling" rise.

He also said of all the rises in reported crime, "the one that does trouble and worry me" seriously is the sexual offences, saying across the country it's gone up.

Mrs Lumley said she has taken action to draw these local figures to the attention of Home Secretary Theresa May.

"I have tabled a Parliamentary Question on this subject, asking the Home Secretary what assessment she has made of this situation, and will follow up with questions about what action can be taken," she said.

"This rise in reported rape offences is absolutely unacceptable, and I will do whatever I can as the MP to help stamp out this disgraceful behaviour and ensure that all our citizens are safe on our streets, both in Redditch and all over the UK. This is a matter that I will not allow to rest.”