Violent women are stretching police resources, with increasing numbers arrested for such crime, police have warned.

The chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, Paul McKeever, told BBC TV there was a "new phenomenon" of violent women.

Mr McKeever said: "Clearly there is an increase in the number of women who use violence in their everyday lives and when they are out drinking on the streets around the country."

An average of 240 women a day are arrested for violent offences in England and Wales, according to recent figures from the Ministry of Justice.

Mr McKeever said young women were also joining violent gangs.

"It's a new phenomenon and it does stretch the resources of the police service," he said.

Men and boys are still far more likely to be involved in violent crime. But figures released by the Youth Justice Board confirm that female crime is on the increase.

The number of crimes committed by girls aged 10 to 17 in England and Wales has gone up by 25% in three years to 59,000. Minor assaults, robberies, public order and criminal damage offences have all increased.

Crime reduction charities say the increase is down to the police, who are dealing with violent women more formally in order to meet targets.