Wiltshire 'second safest county'

Crime rates are up 14% in Wiltshire

Wiltshire is the second safest place in England - despite a big rise in crime over the past year, new police statistics reveal.

The county saw the number of recorded crimes jump by 14%, compared to a 7% increase nationally, according to Home Office figures released on Thursday.

But senior officers in Wiltshire Police blame the rise on a new system of recording crime figures, the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS).

They say the county is still the second safest area in the country - after Surrey - and that the force's 28% detection rate is higher than the national average of 24%.

Crime statistics: Wiltshire Reported crimes: 44,225 (up14%) Violent crime: 7,313 (up 44%) Burglary: 6,242 (up 7%) Theft and handling: 17,438 (up 9%) Fraud and forgery: 2,420 (up 16%) Criminal damage: 9,246 (up 10%) Drug offences: down 17%

Violent crime is up 44% on last year, but the police point out that the new system counts even minor street scuffles which are resolved without anyone being arrested as 'violent crime'.

Wiltshire has also recorded a 17% decrease in drug offences, compared to a national increase of 13%.

Acting Assistant Chief Constable Andy Tatam said: "The crime figures show that Wiltshire continues to compare favourably in England, and remains the second safest county in the country.

"Where our recorded crime has increased, this is due for the most part to the new NCRS.

"This system is more consistent and provides a firm basis for analysis and ultimately crime prevention."