WILTSHIRE is one of the safest counties but there is no room for complacency, Wootton Bassett's new police inspector John Tapper told the town council on Thursday.

"The Home Office has set quite stringent reduction targets in relation to crime, and here the figures have been very good."

He said from April to September there had been 17 violent crimes (excluding domestic violence or racial incidents). The reduction target for the section, which included Cricklade and Malmesbury, was 30.

There were six burglaries, only a third of the reduction target of 18, and throughout the section there were 32 vehicle crimes, compared with a reduction target of 60.

Insp Tapper said: "Staffing in the section, by next week, will include three sergeants and 25 constables.

"We have also appointed a detective sergeant and three detective constables, to be based at Wootton Bassett.

"In addition, a pro-active team of three officers will target crime hot spots and known criminals."

In reply to questions, he admitted that recruitment continues to be difficult, nationwide, and Wiltshire is no exception. "We are doing everything we can to recruit," he said.

Insp Tapper is the nephew of Sgt David Tapper, who used to serve in the town. He has been in the police for 22 years, has worked at Swindon and Cricklade, and as a traffic officer in the division. He has also been involved in Operations Support at Chippenham, and has led two community safety partnerships.