Wiltshire has lowest volume of crime in the country
The latest statistics have been released
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that in the year to December 2020, Wiltshire Police recorded the lowest levels of crime per person in the country.
The county's level was 51.1 per 1,000 residents, which was significantly below the average for forces which have similar size and population which showed an average of 66.5.
Figures dropped from the year below as well, with a 16.5% reduction being recorded.
WHICH OFFENCES DECREASED?
Not all crimes saw a drop in the county, some actually saw significant increases.
However, here are some that decreased on the year before:
- Shoplifting down 47%
- Burglary down 34%
- Thefts from a person down 47%
- Robbery down 19%
- Vehicle offences down 16%
- Drug trafficking down 12%
The force have said that it is important to note that lockdown restrictions will play an important factor in the statistics.
Meanwhile, here are some crimes that rose on the previous 12 months:
- Public order offences up 18%
- Stalking and harassment up 10%
- Domestic abuse up 10%
- Hate crime up 26%
- Drug possession up 14%
Wiltshire Police say it's important to note that due to changes in recording around stalking and harassment, the Force is much better at identifying and logging these crimes.
Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said:
"Clearly the latest crime statistics should be seen within the context of the Coronavirus pandemic which has had a huge impact on every aspect of policing throughout Wiltshire and Swindon over this time period. And it's a tribute to the officers, staff and volunteers working for Wiltshire Police who have adapted to this unprecedented challenge to continue to carry out their duties to such a high standard.
While there is always room for improvement, there is much to be positive about - especially our performance in reducing the volume of crime, in comparison with the national average and against other similarly sized forces.
As always, statistics don't always tell the full story. It is important to highlight that our activities against organised criminal groups and county lines gangs remain a priority and are reflected in the figures which show increased reports of drug possession. And our drive to robustly identify and log instances of stalking and harassment as well as awareness campaigns around domestic abuse may have been an important factor in our higher number of reported cases.
The drop in a wide range of other crime areas, from robbery to burglary, while no doubt influenced by lockdown restrictions are also a reflection of dedicated, professional and skilled policework.
The people we serve in Swindon and Wiltshire can be assured that we continue to relentlessly tackle criminality in our area and address the priorities set out by the Police and Crime Commissioner to ensure that our communities are safe places in which to live and work."