Nearly 200 people in Kirklees reported they had received death threats in the last 12 months.

And police say the increase of threats to kill could be blamed on the rise of social media.

Home Office data further shows a 451% increase in “threats to kill” allegations in Kirklees following the release of figures for the 2015-16 financial year.

But West Yorkshire Police say a change in the way crimes are recorded is behind the rise in the figures.

There were 33 reported threats to kill in 2013-14 and 54 in 2014-15 but that jumped to 182 in the year to April 2016.

A threat to kill is classified as any threat that could lead the victim to fear their life was in danger.

Det Insp Mark Gaunt, of West Yorkshire Police, played down the apparent big increase but admitted social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, was a concern.

“Although the number of recorded threats to life has increased, this is due largely to a change in the way in which we record all crimes – a stricter adherence to the National Crime Recording Standards,” he said.

cyber crime, laptop, computer stock

Det Insp Gaunt added: “We strive to put victims at the centre of our service, and where threats are reported, we will record them.

“Often an incident can involve a number of offences, and we are now placing additional focus on selecting the most appropriate crime category to record each report.

“Threats made against people can be very concerning and intimidating and we take them very seriously. The advent of social media has given increased opportunity to those looking to make such threats, and West Yorkshire Police will respond.

“What is important is the service we deliver to the victim, and the protection we afford the wider public, and accurate, ethical recording of all crime types allows us to deliver this.

“I would encourage anyone who has threats made against them to come forward to police and report the matter.”

Reports can be made to police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.