Crime increases by 10% in Swindon and Wiltshire

Recorded crime in Wiltshire has increased by 10% across Wiltshire, Office for National Statistics has revealed.

Today’s figures show that domestic burglary increased by 46%, vehicle offences increased by 26% and violence against the person increasing by 13%.

Labour’s Liden, Eldene & Park South Councillor, Chris Watts, recently put forward a motion at a Council Meeting calling on Swindon MPs to press for more investment in the Police Force.

This was later countered by local Conservative Councillors saying crime could be dealt with through existing resources provided to Wiltshire Police Authority but that Wiltshire Police Authority had failed to distribute its resources fairly for Swindon.

Councillor Chris Watts said: “The increases in crime demonstrates that police resources in Wiltshire are not as they need to be. The government has left Swindon’s communities exposed, with police numbers the lowest on record at a time when the police are dealing with unprecedented pressure from surging crime.

"These crime statistics show that government cuts are leaving many Swindon residents’ miserable, as a consequence of violent crime, burglary and vehicle offences all dramatically increasing.

"There is also a case these statistics will likely be lower than the actual numbers of crimes on Swindon and Wiltshire’s streets as there is a loss of faith amongst residents in the 101 number, which has probably led to fewer reports in crime.

"The Labour Party nationally have said they will recruit 10,000 new police officers to restore neighbourhood policing and tackle rising crime. But we cannot wait that long and the current Conservative Government must act now to deal with increasing crime.”