CRIME recorded in Wiltshire fell overall by six per cent last year while confidence in the police remained high.

Home Office recorded crime figures show fraud and forgery, house burglary and drug offences all increased, while incidents of robbery, criminal damage and vehicle crime fell.

Meanwhile the British Crime Survey (BCS) – which is based on interviews with residents – indicated that most people felt the police dealt with local concerns.

Recorded crime statistics provide a measure of trends in well-reported crimes and can be used for local crime-pattern analysis.

However they do not include offences which have not been reported or that the police decide not to record.

Recorded crime in Wiltshire in the 12 months to December 2009 fell by six per cent to 39,662 incidents, compared to a fall of eight per cent in the South West and seven per cent in England and Wales.

Fraud and forgery increased by 15 per cent to 1,456 incidents, burglary in a dwelling rose by nine per cent to 1,636, and drug offences went up by six per cent to 1,158.

However, robbery decreased by 18 per cent to 271 incidents, vehicle crime dropped by 17 per cent drop to 3,738 and criminal damage fell by 13 per cent to 9,110.

In other types of crime, sexual offences rose by five per cent to 538 incidents, violence against the person fell by one per cent to 8,024, and theft not involving a vehicle fell by five per cent to 10,148.

Meanwhile the BCS figures, which aim to gauge local perceptions of crime and police performance, are based on interviews with residents aged 16 or over in the 12 months to December 2009, In Wiltshire, nine per cent of respondents reported a high level of anti-social behaviour, 18 per cent said drug use or dealing was a very or fairly big problem and 20 per cent said drunk or rowdy behaviour was a very or fairly big problem.

Meanwhile 60 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that the police dealt with local concerns, and 48 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that both the police and local councils were dealing with issues.

l Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett writes for the Swindon Advertiser tomorrow.