June saw a sharp rise in reported crime in Shepton Mallet, with 174 incidents logged—up from 108 in May.

The increase came during the month of Glastonbury Festival, which brings thousands of visitors to the local area. Police say such influxes often result in higher crime figures, particularly in nearby towns.

Drug offences saw the most dramatic rise, jumping from zero in May to 22 in June. These include possession, supply, or production of illegal substances. Violent crime remained the most recorded offence, with 71 incidents compared to 64 the previous month. This category includes assault, grievous bodily harm, and domestic abuse.

Shoplifting rose from 8 to 13 cases. 'Other theft', which climbed from 2 to 16, includes crimes such as stealing unattended items in public spaces. Public order offences, including threatening behaviour or causing fear, rose from 6 to 16.

Robbery—taking property with force or threat—increased from 1 to 4. Possession of weapons, such as knives or firearms, doubled from 3 to 6.

Anti-social behaviour, including public drinking, vandalism or nuisance activity, remained steady at 12 reports each month. Criminal damage and arson saw five incidents in June, up slightly from four in May. Vehicle crime, such as theft from or of a vehicle, remained low with two reports both months.

A police spokesperson said: "It's not unusual to see an increase in crime during June due to the influx of visitors attending Glastonbury Festival. The rise in drug-related offences and thefts reflects this, but we continue to work closely with event organisers and the local community to minimise the impact."

Officers are expected to maintain increased patrols in the town centre throughout the summer.

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