WILTSHIRE has 37 more serving police officers than were on duty in the county this time last year, the Government says.

According to new figures revealed by Home Secretary David Blunkett, the increase brings the total Wiltshire Constabulary complement to 1,157.

The extra 37 in Wiltshire are among 3,992 added to the nationwide roster over the last 12 months.

According to the Government, the national total stands at 129,603, the highest since records began in 1921.

The new Wiltshire figures were confirmed by Sgt Christian Lange, a Wiltshire police recruitment officer.

He said: "The overwhelming majority of them are new recruits, with the rest having transferred from other forces. This is very good news, and we are going to have safer streets because of it."

Three years ago, the Government pledged that there would be 5,000 extra police officers on the streets of Britain by this year.

This equated to a total of 76 for Wiltshire, of which the latest 37 are a part.

Mr Blunkett heralded the increase in police numbers as proof of the Government's commitment to making the country safer.

He added: "There are more police officers now than there ever has been.

"That means more officers patrolling our communities and more officers on the front line, fighting crime."