THE spike in Trowbridge’s crime levels is not due to police officers being sent to Salisbury to cover the nerve agent case, says Wiltshire’s crime commissioner.

Concerns from the public have been mounting after a string of armed robberies, assaults and anti-social behaviour took place in the county town over the last month.

Police also issued two dispersal orders, where officers can order people suspected of causing anti-social behaviour to leave the area, in the town centre in two weeks, in light of this crime spree.

Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson, however, has said that this rise in crime is not down to there not being enough police officers to patrol the town’s streets, whilst others have been assigned to Salisbury.

“It is important to stress that 20 forces from across the country provided officers to protect the various cordons in Salisbury after Wiltshire Police declared a major incident at the beginning of March,” he said.

“In common with other Community Policing Teams, a small number of officers based in Trowbridge were assigned to Salisbury. This would have had an impact, but the team in Trowbridge managed as best it could under the circumstances.

“There have been several serious, but unrelated, incidents in the town recently, but police quickly made arrests.

“As for anti-social behaviour, officers have been making effective use of dispersal orders. I am pleased that an operation is currently underway to tackle anti-social behaviour and petty crime in the town centre.

“I urge the public to support police by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency with any information or evidence they may have about the people involved, rather than posting on social media.

“Without the public coming forward to the police it’s very difficult to address incidents.”