'Positive outcomes' of crimes well above average in Wiltshire
14% of incidents result in arrests, charges and prosecutions here
Arrests, charges and prosecutions are being secured in 14% of crimes across Wiltshire.
That's a rise of 4% percent, and higher than the national average too, with less than one in ten incidents having a positive outcome.
Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson says the results are pleasing, but not good enough:
"Don't think the Chief Constable and I are jumping up and down saying whoopee we've cracked the problem, because a positive outcome of 14% is shocking.
"The one area we're doing much better is knife crime, with 51% - but that means there's 49% of knife crimes where we're not having a positive result."
It comes as latest figures show a drop in antisocial behaviour and domestic abuse related offences over the past year.
There's been 16.6% drop in anti-social behaviour incident, as well as a 13.4% reduction in in domestic abuse.
Mr Wilkinson said: “Since my last report, I have been re-elected to the role of Police and Crime Commissioner following a shorter term than usual, due to the delay of the previous election during the covid-19 pandemic.
“However, all that has been achieved during the 2023/24 year across all areas - and before the election -and I’m really pleased to see a drop in anti-social behavior rates as I know from speaking with residents that this crime type causes huge concern within communities.
“The reduction in domestic abuse incidents and violent crime that we have seen is also good progress, as this has been an area of focus with the introduction of the Serious Violence Duty in January last year.
“However, as always, there is more work to be done and my focus has been – and will now continue through the next four years – to support Wiltshire Police as it continues its improvement journey and delivering upon my mission of Making Wiltshire Safer.”
Fewer violent offences have also been committed in Wiltshire in the past year with an overall reduction of 8%.
That includes and 11% fall in violence against the person, 3% fewer sexual offences, and a 28% drop in robberies
The first draft of an updated Police and Crime plan has been published too - putting a renewed focus on retail and rural crime.
Mr Wilkinson said: “After an extensive period of public consultation, I’m pleased to be able to publish the first draft of my new Police and Crime plan.
“The first step in developing the document was to clearly identify the criminal threats facing our communities. This process involves gathering feedback from residents and balancing this with professional assessments from the police and those working in the wider criminal justice system.
“I have outlined four key priorities in the Police and Crime Plan for 2024-2029, each of which addresses critical aspects of community safety and justice in the region.
“I’ve identified rural and retail crime as being two types of crime that matter most to communities, and I will continue to ensure that Wiltshire Police maintains its focus on arresting and prosecuting those engaged in rural and urban acquisitive crime.
“We have initiated another regional collaboration, called Operation Ragwort, which is an intelligence led operation to tackle those organised crime gangs who threaten our farmers with violent consequences should they be interrupted mid crime and challenged.
“I will also be working with town centres and retailers to coordinate efforts to increase security and support economic development in our town centres, as well as developing Business Crime Reduction Partnerships to tackle increases in shoplifting and crimes against retail workers.”
The PCC will now be taking the draft to numerous events during October, including the Community Safety Partnerships and Wiltshire Criminal Justice Board, before a final draft is presented for ratification to Wiltshire and Swindon’s Police and Crime Panel in November.