Violent crime and rape numbers in Wiltshire have risen by around 20 per cent over the past year, almost returning to pre-covid levels.  

Rape numbers rose by 19 per cent and crimes of violence against a person rose by 20 per cent, says a police report which was discussed at the Wiltshire Police and Crime Panel today (September 29).   

Wiltshire Councillor, Adrian Foster said: “I am concerned, and I think the national picture is not too dissimilar.

"Personally, I believe it’s down to all local and national government departments being under-resourced.

"It’s not just the police force that has that issue.

"We have to support police staff and come up with a solution rather than just blaming the people who are employed because they haven’t got enough to do the job.” 

The Chairman of the Wiltshire Police and Crime Panel, Councillor Steve Bucknell, refused to express an opinion on the figures.   

The number of reported crimes has risen by more than 10 per cent in the 12 months to June 2022 according to another new police report discussed on 26 September in the Chippenham and Villages Area Board.  

The time it took police to charge those accused of rape and serious sexual assault was up by almost 50 per cent in the last three months compared to last year.  

The rape and violence increase has been balanced by a 30 per cent drop in burglary reports, leaving overall crime reports just slightly lower than pre-Covid levels according to the reports.  

The drop in burglary may be because more people now work from home says the report.   

It adds that Wiltshire continues to have one of the lowest crime rates in the country.  

However, Wiltshire continues to battle drug crime.   

In Chippenham, during the year leading up to May 2022, 129 stop and searches were conducted of which almost 60 per cent related to a search for controlled drugs. 

Cllr Adrian Foster said: “Wiltshire Council cut the youth service dramatically so there’s nowhere for them to go and nothing for them to do other than be disruptive. We need to put more resources into helping them but with present financial constraints it’s very difficult.” 

He added: “We’re reliant on voluntary groups and unqualified people to fill the gap”.  

Hate crime slightly increased in Chippenham. There were 77 hate crimes committed in the year-long period, an increase of almost three pre cent from the year before.  

The report says the increases in transgender and sexual orientation-related hate follows national trends.  

Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: “Violence can have a devastating impact on victims and the wider community. Collectively across the criminal justice system -  including Wiltshire Police - we must continually strive to break 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, we should ensure offenders have every opportunity, and support, to be rehabilitated to stop them committing further offences.

“Wiltshire is not alone in recording rises in certain types of crime, like public disorder, rape and violence against the person, post covid – this is a picture which is being replicated nationally and we need to better understand why in order to target the causes, symptoms and consequences of these crimes.

“My police and crime plan identifies violent crime as a key priority for both Wiltshire Police and my office for the next three years. It looks at those practical measures needed to reduce offences as well as enabling a quality, efficient police service to focus on those crimes which matter to our communities and, ultimately, make Wiltshire safer.”