Hertfordshire’s top policeman has vowed to ensure incidents are recorded correctly - event if it means the crime rate shoots up.

More than 800,000 crimes nationally were not recorded by police between November 2012 and October 2013, according to a report released by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary on Tuesday.

The watchdog found Hertfordshire Constabulary’s call centre should have recorded 181 crimes in that period - but 51 were not logged.

A further nine crimes that came in via ‘other systems’ were not recorded but the force did have a 100 percent record for logging incidents reported directly to a crime-recording. 

HMIC assessed 75 incidents recorded as 'no crimes' by Herts Constabulary - with the force adjudged to have got four wrong.

The watchdog called the failure of forces to record crime properly "indefensible" and "wholly unacceptable".

Herts Constabulary Chief Constable Andy Bliss said: "I am absolutely committed that Hertfordshire Constabulary records crime with integrity and accuracy.

"This is essential for public confidence and ensuring police resources are targeted in the most effective way.

 "I am confident that officers and staff do not join the constabulary intent on failing to record and investigate crime properly. 

"Put simply, if a crime is reported we will record it.  

"If recorded crime goes up in the meantime, so be it.  We need to understand it in order to tackle it."

A previous HMIC report revealed the force had one of the highest rates of ‘no-crimes’ for rape and sexual assault allegations.

An unrecorded crime is one that is reported to police but not recorded as an offence, meaning an investigation is unlikely.

Ch Cons Bliss said the force had ‘improved significantly’ after "significant training" in the wake of an HMIC inspection and he is keeping Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd updated.

The latest audit reviewed reports of crime across all 43 forces in England and Wales between.

Watford MP Richard Harrington said: "The police have it at their discretion to not record a crime if they believe no crime has been committed.

"Herts Police got 71 ‘no crimes’ correct, which is one of the lowest rates in the country, but I have arranged a meeting with Ch Insp Dave Wheatley to make sure the report reflects the situation in Watford."