FIGURES have been released which show Wiltshire has the second highest rate of non-UK rape suspects in the country.

The statistics, revealed by a national newspaper, show nearly a third of rape suspects in the county were immigrants, which puts us just behind London.

Data obtained from police forces across England and Wales shows people arrested for major crimes come from all over the globe.

Nationally, a total of 91 foreign nationals were charged with murder and 406 with rape last year.

The nations whose individuals were charged the most frequently with rape in the capital were Jamaica, with 19 suspects; Nigeria, with 11; Poland, with 10, and Australia, with nine.

Wiltshire came above Hertfordshire, Leicestershire and Sussex who made up the top five police forces in the country but cops said that all reports of crime are dealt with in the same way.

Wiltshire Police Superinten-dent Gavin Williams said: “All reports of crime, including sexual offences, are investigated thoroughly and diligently.

“Although I haven’t had sight of these figures I am not aware of any specific reason to explain them.

“What we don’t want reports of these figures to do is create any tension in our communities.

“We have got to bear in mind this could just be a profile relating to this year, and the situation could be different next year.

“What we do encourage is anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to contact police, their GP or a trusted friend, in order for them to provide the appropriate support and advice.

“The main thing is that reported crime in north Wiltshire and Swindon is coming down considerably and it is a safe place to live.”

Earlier this year, Fareed Issa Tariq was sentenced to six years imprisonment after he was found guilty of raping a woman in Swindon Tariq was an immigrant who said he was from Somalia. He was found guilty of attacking a 32-year-old woman, who can not be named for legal reasons, in a car park off Penzance Drive in 2011.

During his trial, the court heard he deceived the victim into getting in to his car by offering her a lift. He then took her to a deserted car park and raped her before leaving her in a distressed state to make her own way home.

Any reports of sexual assault should be made to Wiltshire Police immediately by calling 999. If the offence is historic call 101. People can also call Swindon Sanctuary’s 24-hour helpline on 0808 168 0024.