Crime in Shepton Mallet saw a slight decrease in December 2024, with 109 recorded offences compared to 114 in November.

While this overall drop is positive, violent crime remained the most reported offence, and shoplifting saw a significant increase.

Violent crime, which includes physical assault, harassment, and domestic abuse, remained the biggest concern, with 44 incidents recorded in December.

While this marks a decrease from 52 in November, it still accounts for a large proportion of reported offences in the town. Police continue to focus on tackling violence and ensuring the safety of residents.

Shoplifting more than doubled in December, rising from seven incidents in November to 15. This category includes theft from retail premises and is a growing concern for local businesses. Police have urged shop owners and staff to remain vigilant and report any incidents promptly.

Anti-social behaviour, which includes nuisance behaviour, vandalism, and intimidation, remained fairly stable, with 13 reports in December compared to 14 in November. Such incidents can have a significant impact on communities, and officers continue to work on reducing disorder in public spaces.

Burglaries, which involve unlawfully entering a home or business with intent to steal, increased from three reports in November to six in December. Criminal damage and arson, which include vandalism and deliberate fire-setting, fell slightly from ten incidents in November to six last month.

Other theft, which covers crimes such as stealing unattended property or pickpocketing, decreased from eight incidents in November to five in December. Meanwhile, vehicle crime, which includes theft of or from vehicles, rose from one case in November to three last month.

Drugs offences, including possession and intent to supply, doubled from one case in November to two in December, while robbery, which involves theft using force or threats, increased from two to three cases. Possession of weapons, a category that covers carrying items such as knives or firearms, dropped from four offences in November to one in December.

A police spokesperson said: "While it is positive to see a small reduction in crime figures, there are still areas of concern, particularly violent crime and shoplifting. We continue to work with the community and local businesses to tackle these issues and encourage residents to report any suspicious activity."

With crime levels fluctuating month to month, police say they will continue to monitor trends and deploy resources where needed. The crime figures for January 2025 are expected to be released in the coming weeks.