POLICE have tried to reassure councillors that Wellington has not become a violent town overnight following an increase in ‘violence against the person’ on crime figures.

A report which went before Wellington Town Council at its latest meeting showed 38 incidents of assault in the area during November – far more than normal.

But PCSO Steve Hill told councillors that incidents which occur at Wellesley Park Hospital at Chelston – where patients and staff are assaulted – are now included in that bracket of crime figure.

He added that most of the incidents had taken place at the hospital rather than in the town centre.