RECORDED crime in Wiltshire rose by 12 per cent in the 12 months to September compared to the same period in the previous year, according to new figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that recorded violent crime saw a prominent rise in the county with 5154 violence with injury incidents reported. There was also an increase in vehicle offences including theft and reporting public order offences, which shows an additional 1,475 incidents reported.

House burglaries also rose by seven per cent, which is similar to forces regionally. To tackle burglaries, police are testing a pilot scheme where a forensic officer will attend each burglary and investigator will be allocated to each crime.

The ONS statistics help police to understand demand and deploy resources more effectively and efficiently.

Assistant Chief Constable Kier Prichard said: “Wiltshire Police, along with forces nationwide, has taken significant steps to improve the accuracy of recorded crime. The effects of this work have been reflected across the country in increased recorded crime and Wiltshire Police is no exception.

“It is vital that we get crime recording right to give us a true picture of crime in the county, which enables us to put the right resources in the right place at the right time, policing efficiently and effectively.

"We have built our Community Policing Team in order to meet this demand.”

The overall recorded crime rate has increased in line with national and regional changes, 12 per cent and 9 per cent respectively. A substantial part of this increase has been attributed to the changes in recording by the police against the Home Office Counting Rules.

Recorded figures of serious violence, drug offences and theft offences continue to remain at a low level for Wiltshire Police.