London, May 26 (ANI): More than half a million assaults were either carried out by a girl or woman last year or involved a female as part of a group - and the trend is increasing, the Daily Telegraph can disclose.

Women and girls were responsible for 13 per cent of all violent attacks in 2007/08, according to the British Crime Survey, which was the equivalent of 281,320 assaults, robberies and muggings, compared with 11 per cent in the previous year.

A further 11 per cent of incidents - or 238,040 crimes - involved both male and female offenders, the figures from the Home Office show.

Females were also either directly responsible for or involved in 21 per cent of all woundings, the equivalent of 98,070 offences, and 28 per cent of all assaults involving a minor injury.

The grim statistics leave grave questions over Labour's promise to make the streets safer and to tackle alcohol-fuelled disorder.

Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: It is indicative of how appalling habitual violence is on our streets that so many women are involved.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The Government is committed to tackling all violent crime - whoever perpetrates it. (ANI)