Trowbridge deputy mayor Cllr Tom James, who lives on the Seymour estate (16491/2)AN estate in Trowbridge is the worst violent crime blackspot in west Wiltshire, according to new figures.

The Wiltshire and Swindon Crime Drugs Audit show the town's Adcroft ward, including the Seymour estate, has more crime per 1,000 people than any other area.

Town councillor Tom James, who lives on the estate, said: "It is disappointing, of course it is, but we are the most impoverished area in Wiltshire and a side effect of that is crime."

The breakdown of the crime figures into wards has been done for the year 2002/3 and shows Adcroft with the highest rate of violent crime in west Wiltshire, nearly three times that of the next highest, Melksham North.

Insp Gynn Hookings, of Trowbridge Police, said: "With any town this size you are going to get pockets of crime.

"We do have a significant number of offenders who live in the Seymour estate area."

The estate has been plagued by a series of arsons for nearly a year, with thousands of pounds of damage caused to bins, fences and a jeep.

Police believe the culprit is local and are appealing for help from the community to tackle both the arsons and levels of crime on the estate.

Extra officers have been policing the estate and a Police Community Safety Officer has been assigned just to that area.

Insp Hookings said: "I think the more we can work in partnership with the housing associations, the residents associations, businesses and the local community itself, the more positive an impact we can have on crime."

Cllr James, the deputy mayor, believes the only way to tackle levels of crime on the estate is more careful community planning.

"I can't blame anyone other than the people who commit the crimes but I think we could manage things better.

"If your name is at the top of the housing waiting list you get the next place available but that doesn't give the housing society the chance to build sustainable communities or consider the best place for a particular person.

"I don't know what the answer to that is and I really wish I did."

Insp Hookings said across Trowbridge in general the picture has improved in the last six months, with the total number of crimes reported falling by six per cent between April and December 2004.

But he said the same period has seen a slight increase in the level of violent crimes compared to the previous year.

"In terms of violent crime Trowbridge will have more than any of the other towns in west Wiltshire," he said.

"The reason for that is Trowbridge is a late night drinking venue and as a result of that you will have higher levels of both violent crime and anti-social behaviour that is alcohol related."