Wiltshire recorded fewest crimes of England police forces last year
The latest stats show an 8% fall in the year to March 2024
Wiltshire Police recorded the lowest number of crimes of any force in England and Wales, according to latest stats.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show an 8% decrease in incidents from April 2023 and March 2024.
There's been particular falls in crimes like robberies - which have gone down 28% and residential burglaries, which have dropped by 22%.
A 13% fall in public order offences has also been recorded, along with an 11% decrease in violence against the person.
Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Catherine Roper said:
“My colleagues and I are dedicated to keeping Wiltshire safe. These latest figures from the ONS showing Wiltshire as having the lowest overall recorded crime rate of all forces in the country are a reflection of this commitment to our communities.
“However, these statistics also show that we still have victims of crime across the county who are suffering from the unscrupulous people who are still causing harm. The significant rises in theft from the person and shoplifting are being addressed through increased town centre patrolling; improving collaborations with retailers and partners, and robust enforcement against repeat offenders.
“We will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of criminals; we will continue to hold them to account for their actions, and we will continue to place our support to our victims at the heart of everything we do.”
Shoplifting offences are on the increase
Incidents of thefts from shops have jumped by 14% in the 12 month period across Wiltshire - that's about 500 more incidents than the previous year.
The Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, says 'plans are in place to tackle that and improve engagement with retailers'.
He said: “Shoplifting should not be dismissed as a victimless, lower-level crime – we’re seeing an increasing trend of shoplifting being used by organised crime groups to fuel criminality and the impact on retailers, employees and the wider community should not be understated.
“This impact is felt further when intimidation and threats of violence accompany shoplifting offences and both economic and physical harm is caused to those working in retail and business owners.
“I have and continue to challenge Wiltshire Police to better tackle shoplifting and am pleased that a new business crime strategy has been developed which outlines a clear forward plan. This will be supported by the increased focus on police visibility and neighbourhood policing under the direction of Chief Constable Catherine Roper - we must ensure that people are able to feel safe in the communities they live and work.”
Following consultation with retailers, business networks such as Salisbury BID and both Wiltshire and Swindon Borough Councils, additional crime prevention measures are being funded by the PCC's office, such as increased CCTV coverage, additional police patrols, improved reporting mechanisms and greater intelligence sharing between retailers and the police.