POLICE in Cricklade have hit back at claims that the town is a no-go area after dark.

Officers responsible for the town say it is one of the safest in the county and they have taken measures to combat the main problem in the area of anti-social behaviour, by increasing patrols.

Last month, the proprietors of the Vale Hotel in the High Street said that they were unhappy with the way the town is being policed following an airgun attack near their premises.

Mark Ingle and Cherise Hutchin-son claimed that vandals have plagued them since they moved to the town two years ago.

They want to be policed by the Swindon Division because they say officers from that sector respond faster.

Cricklade is on the border of Chip-penham and Swindon divisions, but it is patrolled by officers from the Chippenham Division, which also covers everywhere from Wootton Bassett down to Warminster.

Insp Craig Hill, who is in charge of the Chippenham Division, said that Cricklade police station is not open 24-hours a day and his officers are tasked with covering a wide area.

For example, an officer based in Wootton Bassett may be called to an incident in Cricklade and vice versa.

He said: "I am not happy with people referring to Cricklade as a no-go area after dark and that it is not safe at night. It is a complete misrepresentation of the facts."

Insp Hill said that Wiltshire is the second safest county in England and Wales and Cricklade accounts for only four per cent of crime in this county.

He added that no crimes, such as burglaries, assaults, or vehicle crime had been recorded in the last two weeks.

He said: "One of the main problems in the town is criminal damage and anti-social behaviour by youths. Historically this has been a problem across my sector but it is also a national problem.

"We have increased high visibility patrols and we are targeting hot spots known for vandalism."

Sgt Andy Bridge is in charge of the Cricklade Station.

He said: "There was a perception that we haven't done anything even though we have attended incidents and are dealing with them.

"We haven't got the time to go around updating people on what action we have taken and in a community where there isn't a high amount of burglary or violent crime people pick up on the more minor incidents."

"And other people have complained that the station is not open more for public inquiries.

"But I don't want the station staffed 24 hours a day because I would rather have my officers out in the community or dealing with incidents than bound to a desk."

There are nine police officers based at Cricklade Station but three are currently stationed elsewhere because they have been assigned other duties for a period.

Officers based at the Cricklade are also responsible for policing Ashton Keynes, Braydon, Latton, Leigh, Lydiard Millicent, Marston Meysey and Purton.

WPC Tina Staynings has recently joined the Cricklade team as a part time community police officer for the town and has been living in Cricklade for the past eight years.

She said: "I hope to be patrolling the town regularly."

The Cricklade station is open from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Monday to Friday and out of these hours people can report non-urgent incidents on (01380) 722341.