Police pleased at cut in gun crime (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Police pleased at cut in gun crime

Andy TatumSWINDON'S most senior police officer has welcomed new figures showing Wiltshire has bucked the national trend on gun crime.

While gun crime rose by five per cent across the rest of the country, incidents in Wiltshire fell by 12 per cent.

Swindon's chief superintendent, Andy Tatum, said: "In our experience, the level of gun crime in Swindon is relatively low.

"But we continue to be concerned about the number of occasions where stupid and irresponsible behaviour leads to a full police armed response.

"Gun crime is also linked to violent crime and drug offences.

"Swindon police and other agencies within the Swindon Community Safety Partnership will focus on ways to reduce violent crime further."

Home Office figures show that there were 53 firearm offences in Wiltshire in the past year compared to 60 in 2002/03.

Separate statistics out last week revealed that Wiltshire is now the safest county in England and Wales, and Swindon is one of the most crime-free towns of its size.