KNIVES were used in a fifth of robberies in Wiltshire last year, shocking new figures reveal.

Official crime statistics published yesterday show knifepoint robberies made up 19 per cent of the 57 offences reported to Wiltshire Police in the 12 months to June 2018.

In total, 254 of the most serious offences like threats to kill and assaults involved knives or other sharp weapons such as screwdrivers.

Across the county, robberies were up 12 per cent compared to the previous year. However, it was below the national increase of more than a fifth.

Asst Ch Const Craig Holden said: “The increase in robbery in Wiltshire maybe well below the national average but we recognise this concerning rise which is why we are employing significant resources into tackling knife crime, like our recent Op Sceptre knife crime initiative and amnesty that saw more than 400 weapons handed in.”

He linked a slight, four per cent rise in violent crimes to drugs and dangerous out-of-town groups from London, Birmingham and other cities known as county lines gangs that are moving into Swindon to sell their product.

“Our focus on pursuing those responsible for county lines drugs supply is relentless, as is our focus on protecting and safeguarding the children and vulnerable adults who are exploited,” Mr Holden said.

“We continue to work hard with other agencies to try and reduce the demand for problematic drugs, improving the provision of treatment services and diverting vulnerable people away from drug use.

“This is the long-term solution to reducing the violent crime associated with drug supply and we are committed to supporting prevention as much as enforcement.”

Police said an eight per cent fall in the number of burglaries reported in the past year was a result of new community tasking teams, introduced in 2017 specifically to target crimes like burglaries that are a key focus for the Wiltshire force.

Angus Macpherson, Wiltshire and Swindon’s police and crime commissioner, said: “Burglary is a high impact crime that can be devastating for victims, and it is incredibly encouraging to see that the community tasking teams are starting to have an impact and the courts are sending a clear message to offenders when sentencing.”

Overall, more than 43,600 crimes were recorded by Wiltshire Police last year, a three per cent rise on the previous year.

Longer term, the force has seen big rises in the number of sexual offences being reported in Swindon, with a three-fold increase since 2007 as more victims come forward to report offences. Weapons offences were up, following a dip in the mid-2010s.