Anti-social behaviour reports have more than doubled nationally since the lockdown began.

Wiltshire Police chief Kier Pritchard said that was in part down to how forces were recording coronavirus-related calls.

Since the lockdown began, the Wiltshire force’s control room had received 5,300 Covid-19 reports.

But a fall in other forms of crime meant officers were able to spend more time on patrol.

“You’ve seen a heightened police presence on bike and foot and out on general patrol helping to keep the public safe but also work within our various patrol plans whether it’s guided by online reports or our general understanding of antisocial behaviour hotspots,” Mr Pritchard said.

Crime continues, however. Despite restrictions on movement, there have been a series of high profile arrests of men suspected of travelling from London and Reading to deal drugs in Swindon.

Last week, five Berkshire men were stopped in a car in Stratton by a police officer who noticed a smell of cannabis coming from their vehicle. It led police to raid homes around Reading, including one where detectives found more than 100 cannabis plants.

Earlier this week, police arrested two men in London on suspicion of running a County Lines operation sending teenagers by road and train to deal heroin and crack cocaine in Wiltshire.

And officers have obtained at least three closure orders after concerns about drug dealing in homes and a Swindon hotel.