Wiltshire has the lowest recorded crime rate of any police force area in the South West, according to newly published figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The county recorded 56.09 crimes per 1,000 people for the year ending March 2026, compared with a South West regional average of 73.49 and a national average for England of 83.45.
Local policing and national debate
Philip Wilkinson, the police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire, said the data underlines the county’s position in the region and argued it demonstrates the value of locally-focused policing. He acknowledged that "no increase in crime can be ignored" while emphasising the strengths of a service he says is accountable to communities.
"These figures reinforce Wiltshire's position as the safest force area in the South West, with a significant lead over neighbouring areas,"
Mr Wilkinson highlighted the continued importance of officers and staff knowing the communities they serve, citing local knowledge as a key tool in crime prevention and protecting residents in towns, villages and rural locations.
Inspection praise and implications for policing models
The ONS release arrives amid wider discussion about the structure and scale of policing in England and Wales. Mr Wilkinson used the statistics to challenge the assumption that larger forces necessarily produce better outcomes.
Wiltshire Police has also recently been assessed favourably by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). Following a PEEL inspection, the force was placed in Tier 1 of the new Policing Performance System — an outcome the chief constable described as an endorsement of staff and volunteers.
"Last week, we were pleased to share that His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services has placed Wiltshire Police in Level 1 – the highest category within its new Policing Performance System,"
The chief constable said this was a significant endorsement of the effort of those who work, volunteer and support the force as it seeks to improve service to Wiltshire communities.
Numbers at a glance
The disparity between local, regional and national crime rates is clear from the ONS figures:
- Wiltshire: 56.09 crimes per 1,000 people (year to March 2026)
- South West average: 73.49 per 1,000
- England average: 83.45 per 1,000
| Area | Crimes per 1,000 people (year to March 2026) |
|---|---|
| Wiltshire | 56.09 |
| South West average | 73.49 |
| England average | 83.45 |
What the figures mean locally and beyond
While the ONS statistics position Wiltshire at the lower end of recorded crime in the region, local leaders caution against complacency. The police and crime commissioner’s comments acknowledged that any rise in offending warrants attention, even as the broader picture is presented as a sign of effective policing and community engagement.
The data also feeds into an ongoing policy debate about consolidation and collaboration between forces. Proponents of larger, merged forces argue they deliver efficiencies and improved capability; critics point to examples such as Wiltshire where a smaller, community-oriented model — backed by positive inspection findings — is cited as delivering strong outcomes.
For residents and policymakers, the ONS release offers both a snapshot of current crime levels and a prompt to weigh the relative merits of policing models as forces adapt to changing demand, budgets and governance arrangements.
The figures are part of the ONS’s regular statistical monitoring of crime and policing, and will be scrutinised by local leaders, national commentators and policing bodies as debates continue over how to organise and resource frontline policing in the years ahead.
