DESPITE financial difficulties experienced by people in Wiltshire during the current economic recession, the expected increase in crime has not materialised, says the county’s police force.

Addressing a group of businessmen and women in Salisbury earlier this month, Deputy Chief Constable David Ainsworth and Chief Superintendent Steve Hedley said violent crime was down 11 per cent, non-domestic burglaries ten per cent, house burglaries five per cent and vehicle crime 17 per cent.

Speaking at the annual business consultation meeting at the Red Lion Hotel, Mr Ainsworth said that during the recession the force had seen new people enter the criminal world, particularly in the field of drug dealing, and some London-based criminals had moved their activities to Wiltshire.

But the force had managed to deal with these challenges and to achieve a 32 per cent detection rate.

It had also focused on speeding drivers in response to public concern.

The challenges had been met, said Wiltshire Police Authority treasurer Mike Prince, despite the force receiving one of the lowest government grants and having to cope with rising fuel, building maintenance and salary costs.

The force had to find more ways to make savings and to look at partnership arrangements and sharing resources, such as premises, with other public sector organisations.

Chief Supt Hedley said there had been no reduction in police officer numbers, nor any move to “convert” them into police community support officers, but he confirmed recruitment had been frozen.

“The challenge is,” he said, “to make sure that front line policing does not change – the Friday and Saturday night policing.”

Mr Ainsworth said the Wiltshire trial for the national initiative Total Place was under way on the Bemerton Heath estate in Salisbury.

This involved police and other agencies working together with families to help them lead more productive lives and contribute more to society.

Louise Howard, president of Salisbury and District Chamber of Commerce & Industry which organised the meeting, was concerned that, with the emphasis on savings, staff might be moved away from Salisbury.

Chief Supt Hedley said there was no plan to move support staff away from Salisbury Police Station, but it was unlikely any new jobs would be created there.

Wiltshire Police Authority chairman Chris Hoare said that “if the property market was buoyant, we would think of downsizing”.

But Mr Ainsworth said the Wilton Road station “is fully employed at the moment”.

Mr Prince gave a financial overview of the authority and the outlook and options for 2010/11. The authority is due to set its part of the 2010/11 council tax this evening.