Violent crime has increased in Swindon over the last year - despite an overall drop in recorded offences. 

Wiltshire Police recorded 6,104 incidents of violent crime in Swindon in the 12 months to March, according to the Office for National Statistics. 

That was an increase of five per cent compared to the previous year. 

At 27.5 crimes per 1,000 people, that was slightly lower than the rate across England and Wales, which stood at 29.9. 

One of the main factors behind the increase in Swindon was the rise in stalking and harassment, which rose by 26 per cent, from 1,137 incidents to 1,428. 

Offences of violence without injury were recorded 2,508 times, an increase of two per cent on the previous year, and violence with injury on 2,167 occasions, down by four per cent.

Superintendent Phil Staynings, who oversees policing in Swindon said: “It is expected to experience an increase in reported crime as we come into the summer months. 

“Reported crime volumes are extremely seasonal and heighten during the summer months and lower during the winter months.

“This is normal behaviour that we experience every year.

“We are currently reporting a 8.2 per cent decrease in reported crime to the 12 months to June 21. Pre-Covid volumes remained relativity stable when analysing the longer term trend.

“As you would expect we regularly keep this under review.”

The total number of offences in Swindon fell by 14 per cent, with police recording 14,927 crimes over the course of the year.

This puts the overall crime rate at 67.2 per 1,000 people, compared to a national average of 77.6.

Acting PCC Kieran Kilgallen said: “In a year where people spent most of their time at home it’s not surprising that recorded crime has dropped by more than a sixth. 

“We know that many crimes will have been committed behind closed doors and then not reported to the police for whatever reason and it’s important these victims receive the necessary support regardless of whether they wish to report to the police or not. 

“The OPCC is committed to ensuring that all victims of receive the support they need and commission a number of specialist support services to help those affected by crime. 

“Wiltshire Police are already starting to see crime levels increase and resourcing across the force has remained under review by the Chief Constable to ensure that officers and staff are placed in the areas they are most needed to react to the lifting of restrictions.”

Overall, police recorded 13 per cent fewer crimes, excluding fraud, across England and Wales, with around 4.6 million offences in the year to March.

The ONS said the annual drop was helped by a “substantial” fall in crime during April last year, when the first lockdown restrictions were introduced.

The number of recorded crimes increased between July and September, it added, before decreasing again as lockdown measures were imposed toward the end of last year.

However, in March this year, recorded crime was higher than the previous year as the phased exit from lockdown started. 

Other crimes recorded in Swindon included 549 sexual offences, a decrease of 5 per cent, 4,228 theft offences, down 32 per cent, 1,356 incidents of criminal damage and arson, down 33 per cent, 648 drug offences, down 16 per cent, 113 possession of weapons such as firearms or knives, down 33 per cent, 1,464 public order offences, up 12 per cent. 

The ONS figures did show a 28 per cent increase in stalking and harassment offences across England and Wales in the year ending in March, compared to the previous year.

This was driven by an increase in cyber stalking cases during the pandemic, according to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

Violet Alvarez, spokesperson from the trust, said: “We know that domestic abuse has risen drastically during the pandemic, and this is evident in the rise of ex-intimate partner stalking cases that we have seen on the helpline.”