WILTSHIRE Police saw an 11 per cent increase in the level of recorded crime in the 12 months to December 2016 according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The figures, which were published last week as part of an ONS report on crime in England and Wales, are in line with the national trend.

The national increase in recorded crime was 10 per cent while in the south west it was 12 per cent.

The news comes just over a week after Wiltshire Police was praised in Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC) PEEL report in which the service scored 'good' levels in all three areas for a second consecutive year.

Wiltshire's police and crime commissioner, Angus Macpherson, said: “I am encouraged that the overall increase in crime in Wiltshire is very much in line with the national picture. 

“It is worth saying again that the dramatic improvement in the quality of crime recording has impacted on the results. 

“Wiltshire Police was one of the first services to take a much stricter approach to recording practices.

“I am pleased that internal auditing is showing a very high level of compliance with crime recording standards."