Shepton Mallet has witnessed a significant increase in crime rates according to the most recent figures, with incidents rising from 82 in January to 104 in February 2024.

Notable increases in anti-social behaviour, public order offences, and shoplifting drive this rise.

Violent crimes, which include offences where individuals are harmed or threatened with violence, slightly decreased from 39 in January to 35 in February, yet remain a major concern for the community. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour more than tripled from 5 incidents in January to 15 in February, highlighting growing disturbances within the town.

Shoplifting doubled from 5 reported incidents in January to 10 in February, reflecting increasing challenges for local retailers. Public order offences, involving acts that disturb public peace, also saw a significant rise, doubling from 5 to 12 over the month.

Criminal damage and arson, which involve intentionally damaging property or setting fires, increased slightly from 10 incidents in January to 12 in February. Other thefts, which include a variety of theft not classified under more specific categories like shoplifting or vehicle crime, rose from 7 to 9 incidents.

Burglary incidents also saw a rise, going from 3 in January to 5 in February, while vehicle crimes remained stable with 5 incidents each month.

A police spokesperson addressed the increase, stating, "The rise in crime in Shepton Mallet, particularly in anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, is concerning. We are implementing targeted measures to address these issues and are working closely with the community to enhance safety and security in the area."

The police are urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities as they increase patrols and community engagement efforts.