Audit of Crime and Disorder (2004)

Every three years, West Wiltshire District Council, Wiltshire County Council and the Wiltshire Constabulary must carry out an audit of crime and disorder in the district as part of their responsibilities under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The audit forms the base of a three year strategy to tackle priority issues. The work is carried out with a range of other partners, including local Health Agencies, National Probation Service Wiltshire and a large number of public, private and voluntary sector organisations including town and parish councils.

The third audit was carried out in 2004. The final report contains information about crime and levels of disorder and data about the underlying causes. It includes details of consultation with members of the public and business community, and details of the progress made by the Partnership against the Community Safety Strategy.

Key findings of the Audit

Using 2003/04 figures, the audit found that:

- The Wiltshire & Swindon Police Force area had the second lowest crime rate in the country.

- The total cost of crime in West Wiltshire was estimated at £24.5 million.

In a Wiltshire People's Voice survey (2004,) adults rated burglary and supplying hard drugs as the two most important crimes to tackle. They indicated that vandalism and drink related disorder were considered to be the two types of anto-social behaviour which should be given the highest priority.

In a Tomorrow's Voice survey (2004), nearly twice as many young people as adults said that they felt unsafe outside their neighbourhood after dark.

View the full Crime and Drugs Audit for 2004. (Large PDF file, opens in new window)

Following the audit, a draft strategy was drawn up and circulated for consultation, in order to ensure that key priorities were to be tackled. The final strategy for reducing crime and combating drug misuse in Wiltshire (April 2005 - March 2008) has eight main strategic aims. For more information on the aims of the community safety strategy, view the page about the aims of the Community Safety partnership.