Reports of sexual offences on London's transport network have risen sharply in the last 12 months, despite crime being at a record low. 

Figures released by Transport for London (TfL), based on crime statistics compiled by police, show there were 34.7 per cent more sexual offences reported on the network in the 12 months up to April 2015, compared to the same period the year before. 

A total of 567 offences were reported on London Underground (LU) and Docklands Light Railway, compared to the previous yearly figure of 429. 

Reports of sex attacks on buses also soared from 684 to 513 during the same period, while offences on London Overground more than doubled to 45.   

TfL and BTP say the rise in cases is due to more people reporting incidents thanks to Project Guardian. 

BTP said the initiative has "raised public awareness of unwanted sexual behaviour and encourages victims to report historically underreported crimes."

Overall crime on London's transport network fell for the ninth consecutive year to a record low of 27,758 incidents in the 12 months up to April. 

The 8.3 per cent reduction meant there were 2,502 fewer offences and seven reported crimes for every one million passenger journeys. 

Bus-related crime dropped by 5.7 per cent, with over 1,000 fewer offences but the Underground saw the biggest overall reduction of 12.4 per cent, or 1.359 fewer crimes than in 2013/14. 

Police and TfL have promised to put more than 100 officers on patrol across the Tube network when 24-hour services are introduced at weekends in September.

Chief Constable Paul Crowther said: "Our role is to ensure that passengers and staff are not only kept safe and secure, but that they feel safe and secure, whatever time of day or night they are travelling on the network.

"With our specialist skills in railway policing and expertise in operating in this unique environment we are prepared for the challenges and opportunities that the Night Tube will bring."