RACIALLY and religiously aggravated crime has gone up 47.2 per cent in Wiltshire in the past year, figures released today have shown.

The increase is far higher than the 19.5 per cent increase nationally in similar crimes, accordingly to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Wiltshire Police have said that the increase “is in line with increases in public fear, alarm and distress within the category of public order offences”.

Overall recorded crime has risen by 8.8 per cent in Wiltshire from October 2014 to September 2015, in comparison to an increase of 6.5 per cent across England and Wales.

Wiltshire Police have claimed the increased is a reflection of the “continuing efforts made by Wiltshire Police and other forces to improve crime recording consistency together increased confidence by victims to report sexual offences”.

They have also stated today that Wiltshire’s figures are in line with those of forces with a similar demographic profile.

Another significant statistic to surface today is that harassment offences have risen in the county from 243 in the previous year to 639.

Wiltshire has also seen a 15 per cent increase in house burglaries and public order offences have increased by 65.5 per cent.

There has however been an eight per cent fall in vehicle crime and drug offences are down by 13.7 per cent.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Angus Macpherson, said: “At first glance, the headline figure is a matter of concern.

However, I am regularly briefed by the force statisticians and this increase was forecast as the improved crime recording practices bedded in.

“I am heartened that victims of crime, especially victims of sexual offences, have greater confidence in coming forward to the police and reporting what has happened to them.”

Chief Constable Mike Veale said: “As Chief Constable I require absolute integrity in our crime and incident recording and, despite it being an incredibly complex aspiration to achieve, we are improving our approach to recording month on month.

“I am sure this approach will inevitably mean we will record more crimes and incidents. Therefore I am confident that this predicted increase does not mean more crimes are being committed.

“It is down to considerably better recording practices and greater confidence among victims in feeling able to report crimes to us.

“The increase was anticipated and we must be prepared to see the trend continue as our crime recording measures improve.

“Wiltshire remains one of the safest counties in the country and I am committed to ensuring that remains the case. I am equally committed to ensuring the community has trust and confidence in our ability to ethically record crime and incidents.”

The Office for National Statistics said today: “There was a six per cent increase in police recorded crime compared with the previous year, with 4.3 million offences recorded in the year ending September 2015.

“Most of this rise is thought to be due to a greater proportion of reports of crime being recorded in the last year, following improved compliance with national recording standards by police forces.”