Violent offences up on pre-pandemic levels in Wiltshire
The latest figures have been released
Last updated 29th Apr 2022
New figures shows that the number violent offences in Wiltshire has risen from pre-pandemic levels.
Data from the Office For National Statistics shows that in the year to December 2021 there were 16,629 cases recorded in the county.
That's a 5% rise from the year to 2020 and a 9% jump from the 12 months before that.
Unsurprisingly with various lockdown restrictions during the pandemic the number of offences recorded overall dropped.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson said:
“Violence can have a devastating impact on victims and the wider community, and collectively across the criminal justice system, including the police, we need to make sure that we are breaking the cycle of crime.
“Not only must we proactively and robustly punish those who commit offences but work together to prevent crime from happening in the first place, in addition to ensuring that offenders have every opportunity and the support in place to be rehabilitated to stop them committing further offences.
“My police and crime plan identifies violent crime as a key priority for both Wiltshire Police and my office for the next three years and looks at practical measures to reduce offences and make Wiltshire safer.”
From 2020 to 2021, there was also a 9% increase in the number of sexual offences and a 5% rise in stalking and harassment offences.
There are some areas which have seen a decrease since 2019:
• A 40% decrease in theft offences on the pre-covid period, which can be explained by three months of lockdown restrictions being place
• Decrease of nearly 50% in overall burglary offences, which includes both residential and non-residential burglaries
• Criminal damage and arson offences dropped by 14% with 800 less offences being recorded
Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson says the more officers due to start in the next year will make a big difference.
He added:
"The majority of the extra officers recruited so far have been deployed to community policing teams with the focus of improving neighbourhood policing and community engagement.
“We’re already starting to see the initial benefits of these additional officers and I continue to work with the Chief Constable to ensure that visible community policing remains central to future plans.”
You can read the full breakdown crimes on the Office for National Statistics website.