Neighbourhood Alerts Feed

Community visits across the area - Bradford on Avon, Melksham and Trowbridge

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:16:44 +0100

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Your local Neighbourhood Policing Team will be out and about across the area with the mobile police station between 7th–12th April.

📅 Tuesday 7th April

The Bell Pub, Broughton Gifford – 2:30pm–3:30pm
PCSO Walters and PCSO Dybowska
Hilperton Village Hall – 6:30pm–7:30pm
PC Miller and PCSO Dentry

📅 Wednesday 8th April

Melksham High Street – 10:00am–11:00am
PC Coombs and PCSO Griffin

King George V Car Park – 3:00pm–4:00pm
PCSO Thomas and PCSO Griffin

Tesco, County Way – 7:00pm–8:00pm
PC Miller and PCSO Dentry

📅 Thursday 9th April

Station Approach, Bradford on Avon – 10:00am–11:30am
PC Dentry, PC Tilley and PCSO Thomas

Trowbridge College – 3:00pm–4:00pm
PCSO Dentry and PCSO Thomas

📅 Friday 10th April
Supporting the Police Powers Roadshow at The Civic Centre, Trowbridge

11:00am–1:00pm – PC Tipple and PC Greenland
1:00pm–3:00pm – PC Thornell and PCSO Dybowska

Melksham High Street – 7:00pm–8:00pm
PC Thornell and PCSO Dybowska

📅 Saturday 11th April

Fore Street, Trowbridge – 10:00am–11:00am
PC Hannis and PCSO Brain

King George V Park – 4:00pm–5:00pm
PCSO Walters and PCSO Dybowska

Fore Street, Trowbridge – 8:00pm–9:30pm
PC Tipple, PC Greenland, PC Gilmour and PC Thornell

📅 Sunday 12th April

Wicker Hill, Trowbridge – 11:00am–12:00pm
PC Hannis and PCSO Brain

Sainsbury’s, Melksham – 2:00pm–3:00pm
PCSO Piper and PCSO Dybowska

Come along for advice, to share concerns, or just to say hello.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Free Bike Marking Event - in partnership with Malmesbury Town Council

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:06:36 +0100

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Next week (Wednesday 8 April) there will be free bike marking sessions to help protect your bike from theft and improve the chances of recovery if it’s ever lost or stolen.

📍 2:30 – 3:30pm
The Old School Room, Malmesbury Town Hall

📍3:45 – 4:30pm
By the play park, Avenue De Gien

📍4:45 – 5:45pm
The Activity Zone, Bremilham Road

No booking required - just turn up with your bike!

This is a great opportunity to get your bike securely marked and added to the national register. We look forward to seeing you there!

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 27 March 2026

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:46:03 Z

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

Next week, I will be launching the new operational priorities for Wiltshire Police.

For the first three years of my tenure as Chief Constable, I set three priorities- reviewed annually- to inform operational activity, ensure delivery of your Police and Crime Plan and with the objective of Keeping Wiltshire Safe.

These were Safer Public Spaces, Violence and Burglary.

I would like to share some of the significant successes we have achieved under these priorities since 2023.

Priority: Safer Public Spaces

Enhanced visibility in our communities: We have more than doubled the use of mobile police stations out in our communities (from 175 deployments in 2024 to 416 in 2025) and consistently increased how many local meetings and events our neighbourhood teams attend – from 9,800 in 2023, 11,385 in 2024 to 11,655 last year. I am excited to confirm a third mobile police station will be in use later this year, so I expect our community engagements to continue rising

Project Vigilant: This dedicated, long-running operation focuses on tackling behaviour that makes women and girls feel unsafe in public spaces by intervening before crimes are committed. It focuses on predatory behaviour displayed by potential offenders - not on others changing their habits – within the Nighttime Economy and aims to disrupt the early signs of harmful activity. Now, Wiltshire Police are one of the leading police forces taking Project Vigilant further by providing training to our new police officers, so they are immediately aware of the community concerns and enforcement opportunities Project Vigilant affords them. We are also using our experience to share learning with other police forces, we are deploying our drones to support and expanding into our Vigilant Communities initiative. This phase of Project Vigilant involves members of the community sharing information with us when they spot signs of predatory behaviour in our public spaces. More information about Project Vigilant can be found on our website here, and a more detailed explanation of what a Project Vigilant deployment involves can be found on this YouTube video

Utilising our Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) during dedicated operations: Across December and January, our NPTs led a two-month highly proactive programme aimed at improving town and city centre safety with a focus on retail crime, anti-social behaviour (ASB), street crime and night-time economy offending including Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). This resulted in almost 200 arrests, more than 860 dedicated ASB patrols and more than 350 public engagements with our communities. You can read more about this initiative here.

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB): There are now 17 live Criminal Behaviour Orders in place in Swindon (compared to one in 2024) and 10 across the county. CBOs replaced Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and prohibit the offender from doing anything outlined in the order which can include them being banned from certain shops or areas. We’ve also seen the use of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOS) in Swindon – one banning the use of e-bikes and e-scooters, alongside other restrictions such as street drinking, public urination and riding pedal bikes in a way that endangers pedestrians in the town centre. Another was brought in specifically to tackle illegal car meets in the town. The first enforcement of this PSPO resulted in more than 50 tickets being issued and has led to a dramatic reduction in car meets in Swindon. There are also PSPOs in Devizes (tackling issues such as street drinking in the Market Place) and one in Salisbury (which targets street drinking in the city centre).

Developing our relationships with businesses: Across Wiltshire, our neighbourhood teams engaged with local businesses more than 700 times in the last year to understand the issues they are facing and how we can best support them. Last November, your office oversaw the formation of the Salisbury Business Crime Reduction Partnership to prevent and deter criminal activities and create a safer environment for shoppers, workers, and visitors to the city

Stop and Search: We have seen an increase in the use of Stop and Search by 50% from 1,925 (from March 2023-March 2024) to 2,889 (from March 2025-March 2026). When used effectively, this can prevent onward offending within our communities

Tackling rural crime: During the 2024/25 Hare Coursing season (August to April), 22 people were arrested for Hare Coursing/Poaching offences – a 500% increase compared to the previous 12 months. Of these 22, 15 were convicted and more than £3,000 in fines were issued. Between August 2025 and February this year, we arrested 15 people for Hare Coursing/Poaching offences. Of these, eight are awaiting court dates (no further action was taken regarding the other seven). We’ve also seen a 21% increase in the number of rural crime reports made to us from 178 to 216 (from Feb 2025-Feb 2026)

Strong victim satisfaction: Our overall victim satisfaction rate was 77.9% in the 12 months to 2024 and 74.2% in the 12 months to December 2025. Hate crime victim satisfaction is now at 81% - up from 65% in the 12 months to February 2025

Increasing the safety of our road network: In addition to holding more road safety operations in the last 12 months, we have also seen a significant rise in the number of Fixed Penalty Notices we are issuing for speeding offences – from 12,504 tickets in the 12 months to December 2024 to 16,669 in the 12 months to December 2025. In November, Wiltshire and Swindon’s Road Safety Partnership held a road safety summit with a range of partners, ensuring closer working to improve road safety across the county. You and I opened this conference to emphasise the criticality of enforcement, education and engineering working hand-in-hand.

Priority: Violence

Reduction in most serious violent offences: We have seen a decrease in the numbers of the most serious, violent offences which includes murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, endangering life and Grievous Bodily Harm from 313 in the 12 months to March 2023 to 297 in the 12 months to February this year

Increase in the conviction rates and further action being taken in rape and serious sexual offences cases: Cases where Further Action was Taken (FAT) have doubled over the past 12 months, with FAT rates for rape and serious sexual offences now at 9% and 10% respectively. Conviction rates for these cases stand at 76% in 2025. We are also seeing an increase in the number of rape and serious sexual offences being reported to us – from 1,760 in the 12 months to Feb 2025 to 2,019 in the same period to Feb 2026. Our communities can read more about all outcomes available post investigation here.

Increase in the identification and recording of stalking offences: From the 12 months to March 2023 to the 12 months to February this year, we have seen an increase of 68% in the number of stalking offences being recorded. The outcome rate for stalking in the 12 months to February was 17.8%

Significant reduction in the number of wanted Domestic Abuse (DA) offenders: Following a Force-wide operation last October, we reduced the number of outstanding DA offenders from 425 to 249. We remain committed to further reducing this number. We have also seen an increase in the number of DA reports being made to us (from 6,802 in 2024 to 6,974 in 2025). We believe this is due to our communities having greater trust and confidence that we will take action when they reach out to us to help them

Enhanced partnership collaboration: We are proud to be part of a coalition called Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) in Wiltshire, comprising of members of the public, members of the judiciary, police, representatives from domestic abuse organisations, and business leaders. The EVAWG act as a critical friend to our organisation - providing insight and guidance to improve our service to victims and communities. Collectively, we made a commitment to ensure that our approach to VAWG now firmly centres on the voices and lived experiences of victims. We are also dedicated to championing local charities and support groups, such as the Salisbury Soroptimists who support victims of domestic abuse with guidance as to how the justice system works, and useful organisations that can provide support. In May last year, we launched a Multi-Agency Tasking and Co-ordination process (MATAC). This unites policing teams with our partners to target, disrupt, and engage with offenders who pose the most risk to the public. We cannot tackle violent offenders in isolation so we will continue to further develop these crucial partnerships

Increase in the detection of drug possession: Due to our increased visibility in communities and proactivity with using Stop and Search, we have seen a 10% increase in the number of drug possession offences, from 934 in the 12 months to March 2023 to 1,032 in the 12 months to February this year.

Priority: Burglary

Since 2023, 1,858 residential burglaries were reported to us, and we attended 1,855 of these. Of the three we didn’t attend, two were at the request of the victim and one was following no further contact from the reporting person despite extensive efforts from officers. On balance, I can confidently state that, where victims allow us entry, we attend 100% of residential burglaries reported to us

Over the last year, we have seen a 4% reduction in the number of residential burglaries reported to us (583 were reported in the 12 months to February)

Last year, we ran a dedicated operation into a series of high-value residential burglaries targeting large rural properties. We are currently working with other Forces, sharing the intelligence we have gathered to locate the offenders who we believe are responsible for more than 100 burglaries across the country. In addition, under Operation Ragwort - a rural crime collaboration formed between all police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners in the south-west and our bordering forces in the south - we recently seized several diggers, tractors and quad bikes stolen from rural properties. These were all returned to their rightful owners

Working with colleagues in the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, we’ve also dismantled an Organised Crime Group responsible for a series of commercial burglaries in the county.

In addition to the significant improvements in our operational delivery, I would also like to reflect upon the enhancements within our Corporate Services (police staff) function. These mean we have not only delivered improved outcomes, but we have done so whilst achieving the nearly £8m efficiencies required this year. The collaborative efforts of our officers, staff and volunteers have built ever stronger foundations for the next year and I would like to thank them for their dedication.

I would also like to take this opportunity to publicly thank our partners, communities and your office, Commissioner, for their support which have resulted in these important outcomes and improvements to our service.

Looking ahead, the operational priorities from April 1st will be:

1. Safer Public Spaces (building upon the foundations created under this existing priority across the last three years).

With a focus on: Knife crime, preventing youth offending, ASB and enhancing local policing within our neighbourhoods

2. Reduce and prevent Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG)

With a focus on: Domestic Abuse, Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, Stalking and Harassment

3. Improve outcomes for victims

With a focus on: ensuring high quality investigations.

The deliverable, tangible outcomes under each of these priorities can be found in the 2026/27 Plans on a Page which we have published today here.

The two plans – owned by Deputy Chief Constable Mark Cooper and Chief of Corporate Services John Derryman – outline the activities we will deliver to achieve these priorities.

I will be using my next Facebook Live event, on May 11 at 6.30pm, to share more detail around these operational priorities and take any questions from our communities. This Facebook Live will also focus on our HMICFRS PEEL inspection report – which we are anticipating will be published in the next few months – and the contribution made by our incredible volunteers. Our communities can submit questions for this session via this form.

Whilst I hope our communities can see the improvements we are making to the service we are delivering, there is more to do.

My officers, staff, volunteers and I remain fully committed to Keeping Wiltshire Safe.

Kindest regards to you,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

Stay safe from bank and police impersonation scams

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:10:57 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

We are aware of recent reports where criminals are contacting members of the public on the phone, posing as bank staff or police officers.

These scams can be very convincing, but you can protect yourself by knowing the signs and taking simple steps.

🚨 What the scammers do.

Criminals may contact you claiming:

- Your bank account has been compromised
- Your money is at risk and needs to be “moved”
- They are a police officer investigating fraud
- They need your account details, card, or PIN
- A courier will visit your home to collect your bank card, cash, or documents.

They may spoof phone numbers so the call appears to look genuine on screen.

If someone claims to be from your bank:

✔ Hang up immediately if you are told your funds or accounts are at risk
✔ Do not move money or share any personal or banking information
✔ Report the incident to Report Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

If someone claims to be from the police:

✔ Ask for their name and collar number.
✔ Hang up the phone.
✔ Wait a few minutes or use a different phone.
✔ Call 101 to confirm the officer’s details.
✔ Real police officers will never ask you to move money, share PINs or hand over bank cards.

✅ Top tips to remember:

•    Banks and police will NEVER ask you to transfer money to a “safe account”.
•    Do not trust caller ID as numbers can be spoofed.
•    Take your time. Genuine organisations will never pressure you.
•    If in doubt, end the call. You are always allowed to check.
•    If a courier is on route to or outside your property. Call 999 immediately. This is a crime in progress, and do not open the door or hand anything over.

Need help?

You can report it to us online (www.wiltshire.police.uk/ro/report/fo/v2/report-fraud-bribery-corruption/) or if you think you’ve been targeted, contact your bank straight away and report it to Report Fraud (0300 123 2040).

Community visits across the area with the mobile police station

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:30:50 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Here’s where you can find your local Mobile Police Station visits next week with the neighbourhood policing team.

📅 Monday 30 March
📍 Edington Parish Hall
⏰ 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

📅 Tuesday 31 March
📍 Fovant Village Hall – 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Chitterne Village Hall – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

📅 Wednesday 1 April
📍 Morrisons, Westbury – 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Morrisons, Warminster – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

📅 Saturday 4 April
📍 Maiden Bradley Memorial Hall
⏰ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

📅 Sunday 5 April
📍 Mere Cricket Club – 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Shearwater – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Pop by for crime prevention advice, speak with your local officers or to raise any community concerns.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Community visit with the mobile police station - Tack marking event

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:29:14 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

PCSO Taylor and PCSO Moss will be bringing the mobile police station to Landford Stores, Salisbury, SP5 2AJ on Thursday 26 March from 10:00am to 11:00am.

We’ll be carrying out tack marking, so please feel free to bring your equine equipment along.

Come and speak with us about any local concerns or just pop by to say hello as we’re always happy to help.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Community visits across the area with the mobile police station

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:57:17 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Next week the Salisbury Neighbourhood Policing Team will be out across the area with the Mobile Police Station.

Come along to speak with us about any concerns, get crime prevention advice, or just say hello. Everyone is welcome!

📅 Where you can find us:

Monday 23rd March
📍 Dolphin Retail Park, Southampton Road - 12:00 - 14:00

Tuesday 24th March
📍 Salisbury District Hospital - 08:00 - 12:30

Wednesday 25th March
📍 The Pavillion, Bishopdown Farm - 12.30 – 13.30
📍 Victoria Park, Castle Road - 13.45 – 14.45
📍 Old Sarum Community Centre - 15.00 – 16.00

Thursday 26th March
📍Harnham Recreation Ground - 14:00 - 15:00
📍Wilton Market Square - 15:30 - 16:30
📍South Newton Village Hall - 17:00 - 18:00

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Addressing Youth Anti-Social Behaviour in Westbury Town Centre

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:04:03 Z

Westbury Town Centre has recently experienced an increase in youth‑related anti‑social behaviour.

The Warminster Neighbourhood Policing Team is aware of these concerns and actively addressing the ongoing issues.

We would encourage residents and local businesses to report anti‑social behaviour as it is happening. Real‑time reports give officers the best opportunity to attend, identify those involved, and engage with them directly.

We also kindly ask parents and guardians to take a moment to speak with their children about their whereabouts and activities when they are out in the town centre. These conversations make a meaningful difference in keeping our community safe and respectful for everyone.

The Neighbourhood Policing Team continues to work closely with local schools, youth clubs, and partner organisations to support young people and address concerns early.

In addition, community reporting remains essential in helping us understand when and where issues are occurring.

Together, with your support, we can ensure Westbury Town Centre remains a welcoming and safe place for all.

For non‑emergency reports, please contact the police via the appropriate channels. If a crime is in progress or there is immediate danger, always call 999.

Addressing Youth Anti-Social Behaviour in Westbury Town Centre

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:18:08 Z

Westbury Town Centre has recently experienced an increase in youth‑related anti‑social behaviour. The Warminster Neighbourhood Policing Team is aware of these concerns; however, many of the reports we receive are third‑party accounts made after the incidents have taken place.

To effectively respond, we rely on timely information from the community. We strongly encourage residents and local businesses to report anti‑social behaviour as it is happening. Real‑time reports give officers the best opportunity to attend, identify those involved, and engage with them directly.

We also kindly ask parents and guardians to take a moment to speak with their children about their whereabouts and activities when they are out in the town centre. Do you know where they are spending their time? Who they are with? These conversations make a meaningful difference in keeping our community safe and respectful for everyone.

The Neighbourhood Policing Team continues to work closely with local schools, youth clubs, and partner organisations to support young people and address concerns early. However, community reporting remains essential in helping us understand when and where issues are occurring.

Together, with your support, we can ensure Westbury Town Centre remains a welcoming and safe place for all.

For non‑emergency reports, please contact the police via the appropriate channels. If a crime is in progress or there is immediate danger, always call 999.

Meet the Team at the Melksham Community Campus

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:49:04 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

PCSO Griffin and PC Ivory will be at Melksham Community Campus on Saturday 28th March at 2pm until 3pm.

They will be there to provide a safe and comfortable space to anyone that would like to talk to them.

Whether that is for any questions, concerns or just to say hello.

📆 Saturday 28 March

⏱️ 2:00pm-3:00pm

📍Melksham Community Campus,Market Place, Melksham, SN12 6ES

Community visits across the area with the mobile police station

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:03:18 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Your Neighbourhood Policing Team will be out across the area with the Mobile Police Station this week.

Come along to speak with us about any concerns, get crime prevention advice, or just say hello. Everyone is welcome!

📅 Where you can find us:

➡️ Wednesday 18th March
📍 Shrewton Village Hall
⏰ 15:00 – 16:30

➡️ Thursday 19th March
📍 Langford Lakes
⏰ 15:00 – 16:30

➡️ Friday 20th March
📍 Durrington Recreation Ground
⏰ 11:30 – 13:00

➡️ Saturday 21st March
📍 Ludgershall – Memorial Hall Car Park
⏰ 15:00 – 16:30

We look forward to seeing you.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Community Drop-In with the Mobile Police Station - Amesbury Neighbourhood Policing Team

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:12:45 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

We’ll be at Solstice Park today between 2:00pm and 3:30pm with the mobile police station.

Come along for a chat with your neighbourhood policing team. If you can’t make it today, there will be more opportunities throughout the week, with additional dates being advertised soon.

If you need to raise any policing concerns but can’t attend:

999 – in an emergency

101 – for non‑emergencies

Email: AmesburyAreaNPT@wiltshire.police.uk

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 13 March 2026

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:29:03 Z

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

I have often referred to policing as being part of a wider ecosystem – we cannot and should not operate in isolation.

We must always seek to collaborate, working in partnership with local, regional and national agencies.

From a regional perspective, I can today share the results from the latest phase of Operation Scorpion – the South West initiative aimed at reducing the serious harm and violence caused by the supply of illegal drugs.

Our Force coordinated the regional week of activity which ran from March 2 to March 8 with a dual focus of targeting drug dealers and identifying those who are often exploited by them.

In addition to executing a series of warrants, we also carried out multiple roads policing operations and delivered inputs to schools to help younger people identify the signs of exploitation.

We were delighted to welcome the Policing Minister Sarah Jones MP to attend one of our warrants to see firsthand how Wiltshire Police are tackling County Line drugs networks.

As a result of our activity in Wiltshire, we:

Safeguarded 24 individuals

Arrested 26 individuals

Visited 52 cuckooed addresses – where criminals take over someone's home to use it as a base for crime

Seized drugs worth over £380,000

Seized £22,500 in cash

Seized 10 weapons – including six imitation firearms.

South West regional drugs intensification weeks are a collaboration of the five police forces in the South West region – Dorset, Devon & Cornwall, Avon & Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire - and their Offices of the Police and Crime Commissioners.

You can read more about the latest Op Scorpion activity here.

Anyone with information about illegal drugs activity should report it to the police. You can do this online or by using the non-emergency 101 number. You should always call 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively, you can pass information anonymously to the independent charity CrimeStoppers, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year on 0800 555 111 or you can use their non-traceable online form.

In terms of national partnership working, this week the Government announced new support measures to deliver fairer and faster justice for victims and tackle VAWG.

Rape victims will soon be able to access dedicated legal advice throughout the criminal justice process via a new national Independent Legal Advisor (ILA) service.

This was announced alongside plans to extend the principles of Operation Soteria into the courtroom.

Operation Soteria was launched in 2021 and changed how rape cases are investigated by police and prosecutors. It focuses on the behaviour of suspects, rather than placing scrutiny on victims.

The same victim‑focused approach will now be applied when cases go to court.

Wiltshire Police was one of 19 forces who took part in the initial concept stages of Operation Soteria in 2021, and independent reviews have reflected the continued progress in our performance, holding perpetrators to account, and supporting victims.

Our communities can read more about this announcement here and Operation Soteria here.

In my last letter to you, I outlined where our operational focus on VAWG is delivering tangible improvements to victims of crime.

Last week, I was also interviewed by the media on this topic to mark the fifth anniversary of the tragic murder of Sarah Everard.

I outlined the rigour of our vetting practices, the evolution of Project Vigilant, our officer verification process and the improvement in reporting mechanisms inside our organisation. You can read my interview with Greatest Hits Radio here.

In addition to enhancing the service we provide, we must also continue to foster stronger relationships with women and girls in our communities.

Last Sunday was a perfect illustration of this when over 90 Girl Guides and their leaders took part in the third Wiltshire GirlGuide Police Challenge event to build critical thinking, leadership, and an appreciation for public service.

A range of activities were created to provide valuable insights into the world of policing, while simultaneously instilling important life skills for the participants.

As a Guide leader and the Children and Young People lead for the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC), I know that public service is the golden thread that connects Girlguiding and policing.

The event not only reinforces the principles of teamwork and civic responsibility but also empowers young girls and women to aspire to leadership roles in their communities.

The badge was officially launched across the county on International Women’s Day in 2024. The badge pack is available on the Wiltshire Police website (Girlguiding Wiltshire Police Challenge badge | Wiltshire Police) where all Girlguiding units will be able to download it to use at weekly meetings and gain the badge.

Earlier this week, one of our incredible colleagues, Luke Newton, featured on BBC One’s Crimewatch Live show.

Luke joined Wiltshire Police ten years ago through the Down’s Syndrome Association’s employment programme, WorkFit. He works as an administrator in the Crime and Communications Centre, providing vital support to frontline operations Control Room colleagues.

He was invited onto the show after being shortlisted for a prestigious national award from the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) last year.

You can watch the episode Luke featured on here for the next 25 days.

Many of our essential policing services simply couldn’t be delivered without our police staff like Luke, and we marked the pivotal contribution they make last week during national Police Staff Week of Celebration and Recognition.

During the week, which is coordinated by the NPCC, we shared messages of thanks to our police staff and testimonies of the critical and varied roles they have in our organisation.

I also had the honour, alongside my Director of People Iain Gibson, to attend the National Police Staff Awards.

This week we also celebrated all our officers, staff and volunteers who have reached 20 years’ service within policing.

We honoured 12 police officers, one Special Constable, one Police Community Support Officer and two members of police staff with their long service awards.

During the ceremony, Lord Lieutenant Dame Sarah Troughton also awarded the family of PC Desmond ‘Des’ Kellam – who was killed on duty in Wiltshire in 1979 – with The Elizabeth Emblem. This is awarded as a mark of recognition to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the course their duties.

This week provided a wonderful opportunity to both celebrate our longest serving colleagues but also to look to the future, with new in service officers.

Earlier today, I was privileged to attend the Passing Out ceremony for an intake of 18 new Wiltshire Police officers.

It was wonderful to spend time with them and their loved ones as they begin their policing careers with us.

I would like to thank all those reaching their long service milestone for their dedication to public duty and I would like to welcome those just starting out in their policing journey.

Kindest regards to you,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

Wiltshire PCC welcomes strengthened Victims’ Code delivering swifter justice for children

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:57:40 Z

PCC Philip Wilkinson has welcomed the news of a renewed Victims’ Code, including the first ever child‑friendly version designed with young people, giving them greater dignity, autonomy and safety as they navigate the justice process.

Funded local support services also echo this step forward:

FearFree: “This is an important step towards ensuring that every child receives the support they deserve.”

First Light: “Young victims deserve a justice system that speaks their language, not one that silences them with complexity and jargon."

We’ll continue working together to ensure these national improvements lead to real change for families in Wiltshire.

You can share your views in the national consultation before 30 April 2026.

Drop-in at Warminster Garrison Community Centre, : Tue 17 Mar 14:00

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:13:34 Z

Community Drop-In Sessions

We’re holding a Community Drop-In Session at Warminster Garrison Community Centre, Warminster BA12 0BY.

Upcoming Dates & Times:

17th March 2026: 14:00-16:00

21st April 2026: 14:00-16:00

13th May 2026: 10:00-12:00

16th June 2026: 10:00-12:00

These drop-in sessions are a great opportunity for residents to:

Speak with a Police Community Support Officer

Share any local concerns or information

Get crime prevention advice and community updates

No appointment needed, just drop by for a chat! We’re always happy to meet members of the community and hear what matters to you.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Where should our Mobile Police Station visit next? We want to hear from you!

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:31:36 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Your Neighbourhood Policing Team love getting out and one of our favourite ways to meet you is with our Mobile Police Station.

We bring it all over the area for all sorts of reasons such as:

🗺️ Reaching rural spots
🎒 Popping along to events
🛡️ Helping tackle crime in hotspot areas
👋 Or simply saying hello!

But now, we want to hear from you!

👉 Where should the Mobile Police Station visit next? Fill in this form and let us know where you’d like us to visit: https://forms.office.com/e/UPKXybWBhe

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Where should our Mobile Police Station visit next? We want to hear from you!

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:26:56 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Your Neighbourhood Policing Team love getting out and one of our favourite ways to meet you is with our Mobile Police Station.

We bring it all over the area for all sorts of reasons such as:

🗺️ Reaching rural spots
🎒 Popping along to events
🛡️ Helping tackle crime in hotspot areas
👋 Or simply saying hello!

But now, we want to hear from you!

👉 Where should the Mobile Police Station visit next? Fill in this form and let us know where you’d like us to visit: https://forms.office.com/e/9dMncqzRaN

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Where should our Mobile Police Station visit next? We want to hear from you!

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:20:44 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Your Neighbourhood Policing Team love getting out and one of our favourite ways to meet you is with our Mobile Police Station.

We bring it all over the area for all sorts of reasons such as:

🗺️ Reaching rural spots
🎒 Popping along to events
🛡️ Helping tackle crime in hotspot areas
👋 Or simply saying hello!

But now, we want to hear from you.

👉 Where should the Mobile Police Station visit next? Click on the link and let us know where you’d like us to visit: https://forms.office.com/e/C9VvZma3n4

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Safe Day community event update with the Neighbourhood Policing Team

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:29:59 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Just letting you know there was a typo on the timings for our upcoming Safe Day community event message we put out last week!

Here are the right timings for the event:

Friday 13 March

4:00pm

Mere Lecture Hall

Residents have told us they’re unsure how to report crime and ask what the police are doing locally, why we don’t have more officers and how the system actually works.

To help answer these questions, we’re hosting an important Safe Day Community Event.

We’ll be joined by representatives from:

Wiltshire Police

Crimestoppers

Fearless (youth crime prevention)

The Bobby Van Trust (home safety and security)

They’ll be covering:

How crime reporting works and why every report counts

How to report crime anonymously and safely

Tips to protect yourself and your home

Signs young people may be at risk of exploitation

What the police and partner organisations are doing in our area

There will also be time for community questions. If we run out of time, you’ll be able to submit your question on a form and we’ll make sure it gets to the right organisation for a response.

This is a great opportunity for us all to understand the system better, raise concerns, and learn how we can help keep Mere safe.

Everyone is welcome, so please come along and support this important event.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Community visits update across the area with the mobile police station

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:48:42 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},
Unfortunately, we have to postpone our afternoon engagement today in Lockeridge, originally scheduled between 4:00pm and 6:00pm.

We will re-schedule soon, but the rest of the week's timetable looks like this:

🟦 Tuesday 10 March
West Lavington – Village Hall | 9:00am–11:00am
Horton – The Bridge Inn Car Park | 4:00pm–6:00pm

🟦 Wednesday 11 March
Pewsey – Bouverie Hall | 8:00am–11:00am
Woodborough | 1:00pm–3:00pm
Devizes – Market Place | 4:00pm–5:00pm

🟦 Friday 13 March
Devizes – B&Q Car Park | 09:00am–11:00am
Devizes – Sainsbury’s Car Park | 3:00pm–5:00pm

🟦 Saturday 14 March
Great Bedwyn – Village Hall Car Park | 3:00pm–5:00pm

🟦 Sunday 15 March
Ramsbury Half Marathon | 10:00am–12:00pm

Come along, say hello and chat with us about any community concerns or just to meet your local officers.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

"Stop the Scammers" - Community Safety event - next week

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:57:14 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Following recent rogue trader incidents, we’re holding events on Thursday 12 March to offer practical advice, fraud prevention tips and support for our community.

We’re bringing together representatives from:

✔️ The Neighbourhood Policing Teams covering the Calne, Chippenham and Corsham areas
✔️ Trading Standards
✔️ The Bobby Van Trust
✔️ Wiltshire Police Fraud Protection Team

We’ll be at the following locations on Thursday 12 March:

📍 Corsham – Martingate Centre
🕘 09:00am – 10:00am

📍 Chippenham – High Street
🕚 11:00am – 1:00pm

📍 Calne – Phelps Parade
🕑 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Come along, ask questions, pick up advice and help us spread the word to keep our communities safe from rogue traders.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Facebook Live event with Amesbury Neighbourhood Policing Team - Wednesday 11 March

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:55:50 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Have a question for your local policing team? 👮‍♂️👮‍♀️

We’ll be hosting a Facebook Live Q&A session on Wednesday 11 March at 5pm.

This is your chance to:
✅ Ask questions about policing in the Amesbury and surrounding areas
✅ Learn more about what the local policing team is working on
✅ Share concerns or topics you'd like us to cover.

You can submit questions in advance by replying to this alert or join us live on Wednesday 11 March and ask them in real time on the Amesbury Police Facebook page.

We look forward to speaking with you and hearing what matters most to your community.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing #FacebookLive

Safe Day Community Event - Next Week with the Neighbourhood Policing Team

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:33:11 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Residents have told us they’re unsure how to report crime and ask what the police are doing locally, why we don’t have more officers and how the system actually works.

To help answer these questions, we’re hosting an important Safe Day Community Event.

📅 Wednesday 13 March
🕓 4:00pm
📍 Mere Lecture Hall

We’ll be joined by representatives from:

• Wiltshire Police
• Crimestoppers
• Fearless (youth crime prevention)
• The Bobby Van Trust (home safety and security)

They’ll be covering:

• How crime reporting works and why every report counts
• How to report crime anonymously and safely
• Tips to protect yourself and your home
• Signs young people may be at risk of exploitation
• What the police and partner organisations are doing in our area

There will also be time for community questions. If we run out of time, you’ll be able to submit your question on a form and we’ll make sure it gets to the right organisation for a response.

This is a great opportunity for us all to understand the system better, raise concerns, and learn how we can help keep Mere safe.

Everyone is welcome, so please come along and support this important event.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Meeting update - time change for community event - Friday 13 March

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:25:06 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Next week's community event on Friday 13 March at the Devizes Sainsbury's has a time change.

It will now be hosted between 3:00pm and 5:00pm in the main Sainsbury's car-park with the mobile police station.

We look forward to seeing you there!

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Community events with the Neighbourhood Policing Team next week

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:21:28 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Your neighbourhood policing team will be out across the area next week:

🟦 Monday 9 March

Lydeway – Planks Farm Shop | 9:00am–11:00am
Easterton – Village Hall | 12:00pm–2:00pm
Lockeridge – Kennet Valley | 4:00pm–6:00pm

🟦 Tuesday 10 March

West Lavington – Village Hall | 9:00am–11:00am
Horton – The Bridge Inn Car Park | 4:00pm–6:00pm

🟦 Wednesday 11 March

Pewsey – Bouverie Hall | 8:00am–11:00am
Woodborough | 1:00pm–3:00pm
Devizes – Market Place | 4:00pm–5:00pm

🟦 Friday 13 March

Devizes – B&Q Car Park | 09:00am–11:00am
Devizes – Sainsbury’s Car Park | 4:00pm–6:00pm

🟦 Saturday 14 March

Great Bedwyn – Village Hall Car Park | 3:00pm–5:00pm

🟦 Sunday 15 March

Ramsbury Half Marathon | 10:00am–12:00pm

Come along, say hello and chat with us about any community concerns or just to meet your local officers.

Community engagement : Thu 05 Mar 10:00

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 13:35:35 Z

We are encouraging the public to have their say. Your local Safer Neighbourhood Team will be available in the mobile police station at the above time and location.

Please take this opportunity to raise any concerns you may have and to find out what we are doing to tackle the issues that matter to you.

Everyone is welcome and it would be great to see you there.

Community engagement : Wed 04 Mar 13:00

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 13:25:40 Z

We are encouraging the public to have their say. Your local Safer Neighbourhood Team will be available in the mobile police station at the above time and location.

Please take this opportunity to raise any concerns you may have and to find out what we are doing to tackle the issues that matter to you.

Everyone is welcome and it would be great to see you there.

{ENGAGEMENT --Community engagement-- [439710]}

Community engagement : Wed 04 Mar 09:00

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 13:01:10 Z

We are encouraging the public to have their say. Your local Safer Neighbourhood Team will be available in the mobile police station at the above time and location.

Please take this opportunity to raise any concerns you may have and to find out what we are doing to tackle the issues that matter to you.

Everyone is welcome and it would be great to see you there.

{ENGAGEMENT --Community engagement-- [439690]}

Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 27 February 2026

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:38:11 Z

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

Listening and responding to the issues our communities raise to us is a central function of neighbourhood policing.

Across December and January, our Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) led a two-month highly proactive programme aimed at improving town and city centre safety with a focus on retail crime, anti-social behaviour (ASB), street crime and night-time economy risks including Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

I should add that the whole Force supported with this activity and I would like to say thank you to my teams.

Our priority locations for this activity, under the banner Winter of Action, were Swindon, Salisbury, Trowbridge, Chippenham and Devizes.

Using local knowledge and intelligence from our communities, our NPTs designed specific problem profiles for each area with comprehensive plans to tackle issues which are impacting the public.

This activity formed part of our local response to the Home Office’s Safer Streets initiative.

Across the two months, we saw the following operational results:

197 people arrested for offences linked to retail crime, violence, sexual offences, street crime and driving offences

863 dedicated patrols as part of the ASB hotspot fund

4,387 intelligence submissions were made

345 individual engagements with businesses

36 schools were visited with officers engaging with more than 4,000 pupils on topics including knife crime, exploitation and ASB

134 speed enforcement events took place resulting in 1,279 drivers being caught speeding (including 120 arrests for driving offences)

Our Special Constabulary completed 3,320 duty hours across December and January

5 closure orders were obtained

4 Criminal Behaviour Orders were obtained

56 deployments of our mobile police stations

351 NPT engagements at local events and meetings

We enhanced our engagement with our rural communities – including increasing reassurance patrols around 12 farms which have been repeat victims of crime and undertaking a proactive hare coursing operation in the south of the county. In addition, you hosted a meeting with the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and the National Farmer Union (NFU) earlier this month to listen to concerns from their members and outline what we are doing to tackle rural crime in our county.

Working with local businesses to prevent crime and improve safety has been greatly strengthened by the launch of Wiltshire’s first Business Crime Reduction Partnership in Salisbury. By your office bringing together Wiltshire Police, Salisbury BID, Salisbury City Council and Wiltshire Council, this partnership is helping us share real‑time intelligence, support retailers facing persistent crime and anti‑social behaviour and build a more resilient city centre.

As a Force, we continue to work closely with your office to strengthen safety across Wiltshire’s night‑time economy and support the communities we serve.

Through your office’s Getting You Home Safe campaign, we have seen first‑hand how coordinated partnership activity enhances public reassurance and early intervention.

Many of the initiatives we support under this campaign are aimed at preventing crimes which disproportionately affect women and girls in our communities.

On Monday evening, I hosted the latest Facebook Live event with our communities alongside Detective Chief Inspector Claire Smith. This was focused on answering questions regarding our approach to tackling VAWG.

We covered many topics during the session in addition to sharing some of our successes in this vital area of policing, including:

Cases where further action was taken have doubled over the past 12 months, with rates for rape and serious sexual offences now at 9% and 10% respectively. Conviction rates for these cases stand at 76% in 2025

Completing in excess of 22,000 public protection notices in 2025, sharing information via our multi-agency arrangements. By working collaboratively, we can more effectively manage risk and safeguard those most vulnerable

Seeing a 14.9% increase in the number of stalking offences reported to us – which illustrates higher victim confidence in reporting and improved reporting practices – and a 3.5% increase in the number of cases where further action is taken, up to 16.9%

In 2021, we adopted Project Vigilant which focuses on tackling behaviour that makes women and girls feel unsafe in public spaces by intervening before crimes are committed. It focuses on predatory behaviour displayed by potential offenders - not on others changing their habits - and aims to disrupt the early signs of harmful activity. Now, Wiltshire Police are one of the leading police forces taking Project Vigilant further by providing training to our new police officers, so they are immediately aware of the community concerns and enforcement opportunities Project Vigilant affords them. We are also using our experience to share learning with other police forces, we are deploying our drones to support and expanding into our Vigilant Communities initiative. More information about Project Vigilant can be found on our website here, and a more detailed explanation of what a Project Vigilant deployment involves can be found on this YouTube video.

Our local action and activity underpins the national VAWG strategy, launched last year, which outlines significant reforms to better protect our communities.

Under this strategy, we are currently in the process of designing a specialist rape and sexual offence investigation team here in Wiltshire to ensure we are dedicating resources to tackle these abhorrent crimes.

The next Facebook Live event will be on May 11 at 6.30pm and will be focused on both our HMICFRS PEEL inspection report – which we are anticipating will be published in the next few months – and the contribution made by our incredible volunteers. I will also be updating on our new operational priorities which I will be launching in April. Our communities can submit questions for this session via this form.

Finally, I wanted to share that next week is the national Police Staff Week of Celebration and Recognition which illustrates the pivotal contribution our police staff colleagues make to policing across the country.

Throughout the week we will be sharing police staff testimonies and celebrating the many successes they have played a central role in. This activity will be coordinated by our Chief of Corporate Service John Derryman.

I will also be joining our Director of People, Iain Gibson, in attending the National Police Staff Awards at the College of Policing next Wednesday.

I would like to sincerely thank every member of police staff who works for Wiltshire Police for the superb work that they do across multiple disciplines within our organisation.

They play a critical role in Keeping Wiltshire Safe.

Kindest regards to you,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

Counterfeit banknote warning for residents and businesses

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:18:42 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

We are urging residents and businesses to remain vigilant following reports of counterfeit banknotes currently in circulation.

This warning follows incidents in the region where fake notes (completely worthless) were used to purchase high‑value electrical items via online selling platforms.

We strongly recommend using online banking or secure electronic payments, especially when buying or selling high-value goods on social media marketplaces. If a cash transaction is unavoidable, please follow the guidance below:

🔍 How to spot a counterfeit banknote

Feel the texture
Genuine polymer notes have raised print, particularly on “Bank of England” and in the corners.

Check the hologram
Tilt the note. The hologram should change between the note’s value (for example: “Twenty” and the word “Pounds”)

Inspect the windows
Look for a clear, see‑through window featuring a precise metallic image and the note’s value around it.

Use Ultraviolet (UV) light
Under UV light, security features should become visible while the background remains non‑glowing.

Check the print quality
Authentic notes have crisp, sharp details. They are not blurry or faded edges.

If you discover a counterfeit note, do not attempt to use it. It has no monetary value and must be surrendered to the police or your local bank.

📢 Reporting fraud and what to do with a counterfeit banknote

Do not re‑use it
Passing on a note you know is fake is a criminal offence.

Hand it in
Take the note to your bank or nearest police station. A Retention of Counterfeit Currency form will be completed.

Preserve the evidence
Place the note in a plastic wallet or envelope to protect fingerprints.

Record details
Make note of any relevant information, such as the description of who gave it to you, vehicle details, or CCTV footage if applicable.

Reporting

If you have information about counterfeit banknotes, please contact the police by calling 999 if a crime is taking place or 101 for non-emergencies. You can also phone CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For more information, email Becky Grist, Wiltshire Police Fraud Protect Officer: becky.grist@wiltshire.police.uk

Wiltshire Police Community Cyber Drop In Salisbury - Cancelled

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 20:04:52 Z

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the planned Cyber Drop‑In session at Salisbury Library on the 16th February has had to be cancelled.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. A new date will be arranged, and the event will be re‑advertised in due course.

Thank you for your understanding.

Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 13 February 2026

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:08:32 Z

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

To maintain the trust and confidence our communities place in us, it is vital that we remain open, transparent and accountable.

As part of this commitment, I took part in an hour-long live discussion on BBC Radio Wiltshire on Tuesday.

During the show, I was asked questions from our communities on a broad range of topics. These included:

The visibility of our police officers – several callers expressed concerns about not routinely seeing officers on foot patrol within our communities. Although our data shows that we have doubled the use of the mobile police stations and that our neighbourhood officers attend more than 11,600 community events and meetings each year, this is clearly not being felt by the public. To improve this, I have commissioned our Local Policing lead to devise a simple way of mapping where our Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be patrolling within local communities. We will then share this information with the public as part of the Your Area section of our website and via our local policing Facebook pages. Despite the financial challenges we continue to face, I have committed to maintain our police officer numbers – around 1,200 – who are expertly supported by our PCSO and Special Constable cohorts in patrolling our county.

The issue of knife crime – understandably, following the tragic murder of Shayne Hambakachere in Chippenham last month, our communities are concerned about knife crime within our county. Firstly, I wanted to offer our deepest sympathies to Shayne’s loved ones. We will continue to offer them specialist support during this time and throughout the ongoing criminal justice process.

To enable local communities, partners and elected officials to work together and support everyone impacted by this terrible tragedy, all must be kept informed as our investigation progresses. To support this, I attended the Chippenham Area Board meeting on Monday, with County Hub Commander Supt James Brain and Insp Peter Foster, to answer questions and provide an update on our response to provide additional reassurance, and enforcement where needed, across our communities.

Overall, recorded knife crime has increased in Wiltshire – we took 786 reports in 2024-25 which was up 12% on the previous year. We are tackling this issue by utilising both our frontline resources - we have seen an 87.4% increase in the number of stop and searches in our county in 2025 compared to the previous year, for example – and focussing the work of our dedicated, specialist resources – such as our Integrated Gangs Team.

Although we are working hard to educate, engage with and prevent young people from carrying knives, we need to do more to prevent further harm. Swindon Hub Commander, Supt Mike Vass is currently finalising a new knife crime action plan to enhance our approach, and I will update you and our communities on this in the coming months.

Police reform following the publication of the Government’s White Paper – I outlined my response to the proposed policing reforms last month, but I took the opportunity to emphasise that we must continue to improve service delivery to our communities and that I wholly support working more collaboratively to achieve this.

Our approach to tackling domestic abuse – I shared that one of the worst moments in my three-year tenure as Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, remains our critical service failure regarding Clare’s Law disclosures. After the failures were identified in 2023, we reviewed more than eight years’ worth of applications (a total of 3,778) and have subsequently ensured additional resources and scrutiny are in place in this vital area of business. A detailed update on the changes and improvements we have made can be found here.

We are seeing rises in the number of stalking offences being reported to us, increases in successful outcomes for victims and we have almost halved the number of outstanding domestic abuse suspects in the last four months. Additionally, we continue to enhance our preventative approach to keeping women and girls safe through Project Vigilant. Our communities can watch a video on this here.

My next Facebook Live event on Monday 23 February at 6.30pm will be focused on Violence Against Women and Girls. Our communities can pre-submit questions for this here.

Our approach to tackling to Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) – although we have seen a decrease in the number of anti-social behaviour incident reports being made to us (from 10,242 in 2024 to 9,121 in 2025), the impact of ASB has a significant impact on local neighbourhoods. From some of the callers to the show, I can sense a perception that we are not focusing on this type of crime as much as they feel we should. My commitment to our communities is that we will always explore all reasonable lines of enquiry to hold offenders to justice when any crime takes place.

We are working ever closer with our partner agencies, including the business community, to understand the issues which are affecting areas more prone to ASB type offending. In terms of enforcement activity to counter ASB across the county, we currently have four Public Space Protection Orders in place (more detail below), in excess of 25 Criminal Behaviour Orders in place (our communities can watch a video on these orders here) and we are actively seeking closure orders where appropriate.

Organised criminality and rural crime – we know that a lot of the criminality happening in our county is linked to organised crime groups – specifically crimes impacting on our rural and agricultural communities. We have dedicated teams within our Force who are focused on tackling serious and organised criminality, but we need intelligence and information from our communities to help us bring those responsible to justice and deter future offending. You can report information to us here.

Our upcoming HMICFRS PEEL Inspection report – we are expecting this report to be published next month at which point I will dedicate one of these fortnightly updates to appraise you, Commissioner, and our communities of the outcomes and our next steps. Since joining Wiltshire Police, I made a commitment to ensure we evidenced year on year improvements to our service, and this has happened. For their upcoming report, HMICFRS took a data capture between October 2024 – March 2025 and then from June – September last year before inspecting us in person in December. Whilst I anticipate we will see improvements in some aspects of our service – particularly around our frontline policing delivery – we absolutely recognise there is more we need to do to improve the quality of our investigations and how we support victims of crime.

Our communities can listen back to the entire BBC show here for the next 27 days.

On Wednesday this week, I also hosted my quarterly meeting with editors of our local media outlets.

Much like the BBC interview, this event gives me the opportunity to understand what our communities are most concerned about or interested in seeing, hearing or reading concerning our organisation via the local press.

In addition to the topics covered in the BBC interview, I was asked about the following issues during the Editors’ Forum:

Use of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) – PSPOs give officers from both local authorities and Wiltshire Police the legal authority to challenge and fine individuals who are engaging in disruptive or dangerous activities within a designated area. We currently have four PSPOs active in Wiltshire – two in Swindon (one relating to town centre ASB and one relating to unauthorised car meets), one in Devizes (tackling issues such as street drinking in the Market Place) and one in Salisbury (which targets street drinking in the city centre). Earlier this month, more than 50 drivers were identified as breaching the Swindon unauthorised car meet PSPO. You can read more about our response to that incident here.

Road safety – tragically, we have seen an increase in the number of people dying on our county’s roads. 19 people lost their lives in 2024 compared to 23 in 2025 and 305 people were seriously injured on our roads last year. We are dedicated to improving the safety of our roads as evidenced by the increase in the number of drivers we are being arresting for drink and drug drive offences (454 arrests were made in 2025) and the number of proactive road safety operations we are undertaking which are supported by our incredible Community Speedwatch teams. To assist our efforts, I would urge all drivers to slow down and be more considerate when driving through our county – particularly during the current, adverse weather conditions.

Financial challenges – as I have outlined to you and our communities previously, I will need to deliver a minimum of £4.6m savings for 2026/2027. As with our Financial Review Programme, through which we identified much of the nearly £8m worth of savings for 2025/26, our priority remains achieving these savings in ways that minimise the impact on our people and on frontline delivery. We must continue to focus on the function of our organisation rather than its form, ensuring that we protect the quality of service we provide to our communities and victims of crime.

I wanted to end this fortnight’s update by continuing the theme of affording our communities ample opportunities to ask us questions and see how we are delivering their policing service, by sharing details of a visit to our headquarters last week by some truly amazing young people.

Members of the Fairfield Trust’s Next Steps programme, which is designed to provide training and employment opportunities for individuals with learning and physical disabilities, came to spend the day with us as part of our ongoing relationship with the Trust. Just last year, we published our first ever easy read document as a result of our collaboration with the Trust.

The delegates asked me a range of questions about policing, community safety, and the role of the police in supporting vulnerable people. They then visited our control room, police workshops and tried on some police uniform.

You can read a full report of the visit here.

Kindest regards to you,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

Meeting cancellation notice - Warminster/Westbury

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:04:33 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Unfortunately, due to operational demand, our engagement events at Edington Parish Hall (11 February – 6pm-7pm) and Maiden Bradley (12 February - 6pm-7pm) are postponed until further notice and will be rescheduled in the near future.

If you still want to raise anything to the local policing team, please get in touch on email: WarminsterAreaNPT@wiltshire.police.uk

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Mobile Police Station – Out and about next week with the neighbourhood policing team

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:47:19 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

We were a bit early with our last message!

It's next week when your local officers will be out and about across the neighbourhood policing area with the mobile police station.

Come along for a chat, advice, or to raise any concerns.
Here’s where you can find us:
Tuesday 17 February
Melksham Town Centre (outside Town Hall) – 11:00am–12:00pm
Officers: PC Coombs and PCSO Walters

Spitfire Retail Park, Trowbridge – 2:00pm–5:00pm
Officers: PC Miller and PCSOs Thomas, Griffin and Wallace
Wednesday 18 February
Trowbridge Town Centre – 09:00am–10:00am
Officers: PC Gilmour and PCSO Dentry
Sainsbury’s, Melksham – 3:00pm–4:00pm
Officers: PCSOs Piper and Griffin
Thursday 19 February
Spitfire Retail Park, Trowbridge – 12:00pm–1:30pm
Officers: PCs Gilmour and Thornell
Sainsbury’s, Bradford-on-Avon – 5:00pm–6:00pm
Officers: PCSOs Thomas and Wallace
Friday 20 February
Spitfire Retail Park, Trowbridge – 11:00am–12:00pm
Officers: PCSOs Piper and Walters
Saturday 21 February
Spitfire Retail Park, Trowbridge – 1:00pm–5:00pm
Officers: PCs Hannis, Coombs and Dentry and PCSOs Brain, Dentry and Pullen
Pop along, say hello, and speak with us about any local issues.
#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Mobile Police Station – visits this week across the neighbourhood policing team area

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:38:08 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Your local officers will be out and about across the neighbourhood policing area this week.

Here’s where you can find us:

📅 Tuesday 17 February

➡️ Melksham Town Centre (outside Town Hall) – 11:00am–12:00pm
Officers: PC Coombs and PCSO Walters

➡️ Spitfire Retail Park, Trowbridge – 2:00pm–5:00pm
Officers: PC Miller and PCSOs Thomas, Griffin and Wallace

📅 Wednesday 18 February

➡️ Trowbridge Town Centre – 09:00am–10:00am
Officers: PC Gilmour and PCSO Dentry

➡️ Sainsbury’s, Melksham – 3:00pm–4:00pm
Officers: PCSOs Piper and Griffin

📅 Thursday 19 February

➡️ Spitfire Retail Park, Trowbridge – 12:00pm–1:30pm
Officers: PCs Gilmour and Thornell

➡️ Sainsbury’s, Bradford-on-Avon – 5:00pm–6:00pm
Officers: PCSOs Thomas and Wallace

📅 Friday 20 February

➡️ Spitfire Retail Park, Trowbridge – 11:00am–12:00pm
Officers: PCSOs Piper and Walters

📅 Saturday 21 February

➡️ Spitfire Retail Park, Trowbridge – 1:00pm–5:00pm
Officers: PCs Hannis, Coombs and Dentry and PCSOs Brain, Dentry and Pullen

Come along for a chat, advice, or to raise any concerns.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Approval for a policing budget to protect police officer numbers while force saves and transforms

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:00:38 Z

Wiltshire Police will be able to protect police officer numbers and continue modernising local policing - while saving and transforming for the future - after the Wiltshire Police and Crime Panel approved the Police and Crime Commissioner’s 2026/27 budget.

The budget proposal, presented by Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson at the panel’s meeting on 4th February, is designed to maintain visible and responsive policing across the county while ensuring the force remains financially resilient in the face of rising costs.

Wiltshire Police must still find £4.6M in savings in 2026/27, despite £8M efficiencies already delivered in 2025/6, as costs continue to rise: including police pay, fuel, utilities and essential equipment alongside the precept increase.

The cross-party panel approved an increase in the police element of council tax of £15 per year for a Band D household – around £1.25 a month. The police precept, together with Government funding, are the two sources which form the police budget for the upcoming year.

The decision will help Wiltshire Police protect neighbourhood and response policing, maintain officer visibility, and continue transforming how services are delivered, despite significant financial pressures affecting forces nationally.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: “This was not an easy decision but it was the right one. The increase protects vital services and supports the continued progress Wiltshire Police is making for our communities.

Find out more on our website: Approval for a policing budget to protect police officer numbers while force saves and transforms

For more news from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, visit www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk/about-us/news

Wiltshire Police Cyber Protect Team

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:00:52 Z

Today our Cyber Protect Officers had the privilege of presenting to members of the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Business Club.

We delivered an overview of the latest cyber threats affecting organisations and individuals, along with two mini‑masterclasses on phishing awareness and protecting your digital footprint.

Sessions like these help local businesses strengthen their resilience against online crime and support safer communities across the region.

If you would like our Cyber Protect Officers to deliver a cyber awareness session for your organisation, community group, or business network, please get in touch. We’re here to help you stay safe online.

📩 Contact us: cyber@wiltshire.police.uk

Community Engagement : Wed 04 Feb 10:00

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 20:59:13 Z

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood team at Malmesbury Garden centre on Wednesday the 4th Feb between 10.00-11.00

This gives you the opportunity to raise any concerns and to find out what we are doing to tackle the issues that matter to you.

Everyone is welcome and it would be great to see you there.

{ENGAGEMENT --Community Engagement-- [416872]}

Fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 30 January 2026

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:12:21 Z

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

This week, the Home Secretary announced the most far-reaching reforms to policing in decades.

Broadly speaking, the Government has outlined the following intentions:

Consolidating the current number of police forces in England and Wales – creating fewer, regional police forces overseeing Local Policing Areas. An independent review will be conducted over the coming months and will report back in the summer regarding what this new configuration could be

Creating a new nationwide police force to tackle the most complex and serious crimes

The introduction of new ministerial powers to ensure consistency of policing standards

Significant investment in technology – including the roll out of AI and live facial recognition to all forces.

Our communities can read the full White Paper here.

The reforms are wide ranging and ambitious – aiming to futureproof the policing service in this country to tackle the changing nature of criminality, with a clear focus on local policing delivery.

My commitment to you and our communities is that I will fully engage in all the national planning discussions to ensure that our policing teams are supported throughout any changes, and that our communities continue to receive an improved service.

We are more visible and more engaged with our communities than ever before. I outlined in a previous letter to you that we doubled our mobile police station deployments last year in addition to our neighbourhood teams attending more than 11,600 local meetings and community events in 2025.

This has contributed to significantly improving the levels of trust and confidence our communities have in us. This was evidenced last year when Wiltshire Police was polled as the third most trusted force in England and Wales according to annual figures published by the Office of National Statistics.

We are also seeing improved operational outcomes in Wiltshire, including:

Our overall victim satisfaction rate was 74.2% in the 12 months to December 2025 (this increases to 81% for victims of hate crime)

A 76% conviction rate for adult rape and serious sexual offences in 2025

Attending 100% of residential burglaries in the last five months

Proactive and appropriate use of Stop and Search increased by 87.4% in 2025 compared to the previous year, with improved recording of all stops

We have improved the safety of our roads with a 14% rise in arrests for drink and drug driving (454 arrests last year) and a 30% increase in the number of speeding tickets issued (16,362 for the same period)

We’ve seen a 20% increase in the reporting of rural crimes and, in the last 12 months, our arrest rate for hare coursing and poaching offences has risen by 500%.

I will ensure we continue this improvement journey.

To do this effectively, it is important to acknowledge that the needs of our communities and the nature of crime has significantly changed since the introduction of the current 43 police force model.

More crime is now coordinated by Organised Crime Groups via cross-border activity and is happening increasingly in the virtual, online space.

It is crucial, therefore, that policing continues to adapt and evolve whilst remaining true to our core tenet of public service and keeping communities safe.

I would like to provide some reassurance, however, in terms of Wiltshire Police performance against future expectations. Under the new reforms, response officers will be expected to reach the scene of the most serious incidents within 15 minutes in urban areas and 20 minutes in rural areas, and forces will be expected to answer 999 phone calls within 10 seconds.

In Wiltshire, we are already achieving this. In the 12 months to December 2024, our average immediate response time was 12 mins 49 secs and this fell to 12 mins 22 secs in the 12 months to December 2025.

We also halved the average time it took to answer 999 calls - from 8 seconds in 2024 to 4 seconds last year.

Regarding the significant investment in technology and AI outlined in the paper, Wiltshire Police has already introduced several AI and robotic solutions to advance our service delivery – from automatically sending text messages to people abandoning 101 calls, improving the quality of our data and enabling our frontline colleagues to work more effectively whilst out in our communities.

We are working closely with the national Police Digital Service (PDS) to strengthen and modernise our Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) capability, and this work aligns directly with your Police and Crime Plan and the national reform agenda.

Over the next six months, this partnership will deliver a range of outcomes that will improve the service delivery by Wiltshire Police and align to national policing priorities.

We already have access to retrospective facial recognition in Wiltshire, with increased usage by my teams. However, we have plans to implement live facial recognition in 2026.

During my tenure at the Metropolitan Police Service, I worked closely with communities to understand their concerns regarding live facial recognition so, acknowledging the real opportunities this technology affords, I will progress this in Wiltshire with full transparency and community consultation. This will include an early ‘proof of concept’ approach to focus on criminality which is of the highest concern to our communities.

I will update you further on this over the coming months.

In summary, I am fully committed to continuing to improve the delivery of our local service, working collaboratively – with both the Government and wider policing network - to benefit our communities and ensuring transparency as we move through the reform process. I will also ensure our communities are updated as much as I can.

To this end, I would encourage our communities to listen to an interview I gave on Tuesday to BBC Radio Wiltshire regarding police reform. My interview can be found here at 01hr 07min into the show and will be available for 26 days from now.

Like you, Commissioner, I will also continue to attend as many local engagements and public meetings as I can to ensure our communities are well informed on our performance and progress. If anyone would like me or one of my colleagues to attend any events, please email my office.

I am so proud to be delivering a better service for our communities and Keeping Wiltshire Safe.

Kindest regards to you,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

Rise in reported sexual offences could be linked to increased victim confidence

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:43:13 Z

Greater victim confidence in reporting, enhanced officer training and targeted strategies to tackle violence against women and girls and sexual offences could have contributed to a rise in these reported offences in Wiltshire.

Latest figures, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) ahead of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, highlights a rise in recorded sexual offences locally and nationally. In Wiltshire, recorded offences increased from 1,999 to 2,286 in the year ending September 2025 - a 14% increase -while England and Wales saw an 8% rise over the same period.

PCC Philip Wilkinson said while any increase in reported crime in one area appears alarming, the jump could mean the strides being made by Wiltshire Police to tackle these crimes could mean victims now feel more able to come forward.

Information on Impersonation Scams

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:43:14 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

We are aware of several reports from surrounding police forces of criminals pretending to be bank staff or police officers on telephone calls, attempting to steal money or personal information.

These scams can be very convincing, but you can protect yourself by following the advice below:

🚫 If someone claims your bank account is at risk

Criminals may tell you your account has been compromised or that your money needs to be moved for “safety”. Banks will never ask you to transfer money or reveal your PIN.

If you receive a call, text, or email like this:

Do not share any personal or banking information.

Hang up immediately.

Report the incident to Report Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

👮 If someone claims to be a police officer

Criminals sometimes pretend to be officers investigating “fraud” involving your account or bank card.

If this happens:

Real police officers will never ask you to withdraw money, transfer funds or hand over your bank cards.

🔐 Additional Prevention Tips

Never allow remote access to your computer or phone following an unexpected call.

Speak to friends, family, or neighbours if unsure. Criminals rely on isolation and urgency.

If in doubt, stop, hang up, and check independently.

Stay alert, stay safe, and please report anything that doesn’t feel right.

Final Week to Share Your Views on the 2026/27 Policing Budget

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:29:27 Z

There is just one week left to take part in the Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson’s Use Your Voice: Budget and Precept 2026/27 survey – and we want to hear from as many residents as possible.

Wiltshire Police has made real progress over the past year, but rising costs and a £4.6m savings target mean there are difficult decisions ahead. The PCC is proposing a £15 a year increase for a Band D property (around £1.25 a month) to help protect local policing services and maintain the improvements already made.

Because Wiltshire remains one of the lowest‑funded forces in England, your views are vital in shaping the budget and ensuring policing stays effective, visible and responsive in our communities.

📢 Please take five minutes to share your thoughts before the survey closes next week.
👉 Complete the survey here https://bit.ly/PreceptConsultation2026

Your voice matters—please make sure it’s heard.

Concerns wide-ranging police reform will take away the public's voice in policing and cost more money, Wiltshire PCC warns

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:15:58 Z

Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner has voiced concerns that wide-ranging police reform will take away the public’s voice on policing - and end up costing more money without an uplift in local policing service or crime fighting ability.

Philip Wilkinson said that despite the clear need for policing reform, and there was much in the paper he supported, the new planned police structure unveiled in the Home Office’s white paper will place unprecedented power at the centre.

He also stressed that big, regional and national, super forces would suck money from local communities and coupled with plans to merge local forces, and introduce local policing boards after the abolition of the PCC role, would mean local accountability is lost.

Read the full PCC statement here.

Wiltshire Police launch Culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy 2025 - 2030

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:05:43 Z

We have just launched our Culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (CED&I) strategy for 2025 – 2030 at Wiltshire Police. This will support us to continue Keeping Wiltshire Safe.

What is our vision?

To be the most inclusive police service in the country which is fully representative of the communities we serve. Our people know that they belong and can fully be their authentic selves.

What are our focuses?

There are four key domains which act as the focus for our strategy:

👪Our People: We will focus on mentoring, leadership development for underrepresented groups, and fair, transparent promotion processes to support our people.

🔗Our Policies and Processes: We will ensure policies and processes are equitable, transparent, and designed with inclusion in mind. We will eliminate any systemic bias and embed accountability into how we operate.

🌍Our Public: Everyone should feel that Wiltshire Police is responsive, fair, and inclusive. We will continually adapt our approach based on feedback and outcomes, recognising that public expectations evolve and that trust, once built, must continually be earned.

🙌Our Partners: We will continue to build strong, inclusive partnerships across the criminal justice system and the community, leveraging collective effort to achieve our Culture, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion goals.

How will we achieve this?

Deputy Chief Constable, Mark Cooper, will drive forward the implementation of the CED&I strategy. DCC Cooper’s role will include reviewing performance against the strategy, work to resolve any obstacles, and steer policy changes.

What opportunities does the strategy present for our colleagues?

There are several dedicated actions that we will deliver across the strategy timeline which focus on our leadership, learning & development, and data. As an example of this, beyond standard CED&I training, all Sergeants, managers and above will undergo dedicated culture and inclusive leadership development.

The Leadership Team are committed to fostering a culture where ethical behaviour is celebrated and expected. We pledge to our communities that our senior leaders will lead by example, demonstrating through actions that inclusion is non-negotiable at Wiltshire Police.

To read the strategy in full, please visit our website.

PCC recognises outstanding contributions to community safety at Wiltshire Police Force Awards Ceremony

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:55:13 Z

Last night Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson gave recognition to three contributors to community safety at the Wiltshire Police Force Awards.

Excellence in Service Award – Paul Sunners, for nearly a decade of transformative leadership with Neighbourhood Watch and his lasting impact on safer, more connected communities.

Volunteer of the Year – Wiltshire Search and Rescue (WILSAR), marking 25 years of entirely volunteer led service and more than 26,000 hours contributed in 2024 to support vulnerable people.

Special Constable of the Year – Special Constable Nick Tremblin, recognised for his consistent commitment to frontline policing and his actions in several challenging incidents.

Read more here.

Warminster Neighbourhood Policing Team - update on vehicle crime

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:41:01 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME}

The Warminster Neighbourhood Policing Team are aware of several reports of vehicle crime in the area.

We would like to reassure the public that a suspect linked to these offences is currently in custody.

Officers will be contacting residents over the coming days to obtain statements and review CCTV footage.

Please take a moment to review your vehicle security and report any suspicious activity.

What you can do:

Lock your vehicle and check it is secure

Remove valuables, including bags, wallets, tools, and electronics

Ensure sat-navs and phone chargers are hidden from view

Park in well-lit or busy areas whenever possible

Use additional security such as a steering lock or home CCTV (doorbell cameras if applicable)

Report any suspicious behaviour, however small it may seem.

If you have been affected, please report online: www.wiltshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

Bike marking : Sat 24 Jan 12.00

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:45:02 Z

Your local Safer Neighbourhood Team will be at The Old School room at Malmesbury Town Hall on 24 January at 12.00-3.00 pm for free Bike marking event

Everyone is welcome and it would be great to see you there.

Community Reassurance Message- Recent Farm and outbuilding Burglaries

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 13:17:24 Z

Dear Residents,

We are aware of a recent spike in burglaries across the local area and would like to reassure you that the police are fully aware of these incidents. We are actively investigating all reported offences and, where possible, are taking all necessary steps to identify those responsible.

Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our community. We are continuing to support victims of burglary by visiting them where appropriate and offering crime prevention advice to help reduce the risk of further incidents.

In the meantime, we would like to share some useful resources with you.

Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch offers valuable support to local residents, including instant crime prevention advice, after-crime support, local crime maps, alerts, and much more. Anyone can sign up to stay informed and help keep their community safe.

Burglary prevention toolkit | Neighbourhood Watch Network

Bobby Van Trust – Home Security Support

We also encourage you to explore the services provided by the Bobby Van Trust. They offer free home security improvements and advice to:

People aged 60 and over

Adults aged 18+ with a registered disability

People experiencing domestic abuse

These services are available throughout Wiltshire and Swindon and aim to help residents feel safer in their own homes.

Latest Scam Alerts In Wiltshire

We encourage everyone to remain vigilant, report any suspicious activity to the police, and make use of the support and advice available through the above services.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.

Cigarettes and vapes stolen after burglary in Winterslow

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:14:40 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

We are investigating a burglary at a store in Winterslow, Salisbury.

Central Stores in Middleton was broken in to shortly before 12.30am this morning (21/1).

A crow bar was used to force the door open and cigarettes and vapes were stolen from inside.

The suspect is described as a male of large build, wearing tracksuit bottoms and a thin puffer jacket with a hoody underneath and a balaclava.

He is believed to have left in the direction of Clough Lane.

Enquiries are currently ongoing.

We’d urge anyone with information, including any witnesses, dash cam footage or doorbell footage, to get in touch immediately to help with our investigation.

Call 101 and quote log number 10 of January 21.

Alternatively, call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Appeal after officer shot in Everleigh with suspected catapult

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:20:20 Z

We are appealing for witnesses after an officer was shot in the leg with a suspected catapult.

At just after 9.30pm on January 17 an officer witnesses motorbikes being ridden at Z crossing, Everleigh, on Salisbury Plain, without lights or number plates. When asked the vehicles failed to stop.

The officer has left his vehicle to find his thermal scope in the rear of the vehicle and saw a bike in the woods to the left. At which point, something has hit his left leg with quite some force, causing bruising. The bike has immediately started up and made off again, lights off.

If you saw anything suspicious in the area, or have information that could help our enquiries please contact us through our website or by calling 101 quoting reference 54260006598.

Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has reiterated the urgent call for residents to engage with the Use Your Voice: Budget and Precept 2026/27 survey.

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:07:05 Z

PCC Philip Wilkinson took his proposed budget and precept increase in front of the Police and Crime Panel last week and received cross party indications of support ahead of the final vote next month.

He proposed £15 per year rise for a Band D property - just £1.25 per month - remains the maximum increase allowed without triggering a costly referendum.

The Medium Term Financial strategy has been drafted to help close Wiltshire Police’s £4.6m funding gap for 2026/27, driven by rising operational costs including pay, fuel, utilities and essential equipment, alongside increasing crime complexity and demand.

One week since opening, the PCC’s precept survey has received more than 600 responses.

But this represents only around a quarter of the responses needed to reach statistical significance - the point at which the OPCC can say that community views reflect the population of Wiltshire and Swindon.

Key insights from current respondents include:

53% strongly agree or agree that annual precept increases are necessary to maintain existing policing levels.

73% strongly agree or agree that Wiltshire Police must transform while still protecting frontline services.

53% strongly support or support a £15 Band D increase to maintain policing services.

Responses are well‑distributed across Swindon, major towns and rural areas.

The PCC is encouraging significantly more residents to take part to ensure the results demonstrate a genuinely representative picture across the county.

Despite being one of England’s lowest‑funded forces per head of population, Wiltshire Police continues to improve performance with more visible officers, faster response times and better justice outcomes - progress Mr Wilkinson warns cannot be sustained without sufficient funding.

He has again stressed that a smaller or zero increase would put frontline services at risk, while a larger rise would require a referendum that diverts money away from policing. All internal savings are already being squeezed, with further efficiencies identified through workforce redesign, technology improvements and rationalisation of the police estate.

Both the PCC and the Chief Constable have guaranteed police officer numbers will not be reduced as part of the 2026/27 budget proposals and has emphasised that decisions made now will shape the resilience and capability of the force well beyond 2028, particularly as Government plans to replace PCCs with new regional arrangements progress.

Mr Wilkinson is urging every resident - whether supportive, unsure or opposed - to take part in the consultation.

He said: “Without reform to the funding formula or a precept rise, services will suffer. Your views genuinely help shape the future of policing in Wiltshire.”

The Use Your Voice: Budget and Precept 2026/27 survey remains open, and the OPCC is particularly encouraging participation from younger age groups, under‑represented communities and those living in rural areas to ensure a balanced response.

Take part in the survey today and help shape the future of policing in Wiltshire. Complete the survey here:
https://bit.ly/PreceptConsultation2026

Hundreds of NHS staff surveyed revealing abuse faced at work

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:30:12 Z

Wiltshire Police have surveyed 600 hospital workers as part of the Never Ok campaign, uncovering the scale of abuse faced by frontline NHS staff.

The campaign aims to send a clear message: violence, harassment, and aggression should never be considered part of the job for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

PC Becky Berni, Wiltshire Police liaison officer, and trainee officers spoke to hundreds of staff members about their experiences.

PC Becky Berni said: “We wanted to really listen to staff about the problems they are facing. Many of them told us they feel expected to tolerate verbal aggression, physical violence, and, in some cases, sexual assault. This has a serious impact on their wellbeing with some living in fear of what they might face during a shift.

“While a small number of incidents involve patients whose illness affects their capacity, most acts of violence are deliberate. And we know the impact is profound. Trauma lingers. It shapes how people feel at work, how they recover after each shift, and how they’re able to care for others when they’re constantly bracing for the next threat.

"We are told the level of involvement here in Wiltshire is much higher than anywhere else in the UK. These are victims, and they deserve recognition and support. We believe that when staff feel protected, valued, and safe, our hospitals can become the safe and compassionate environments they are meant to be—for everyone."

Wiltshire Police have developed a training programme to help hospital staff identify criminal behaviour and access support when they experience violence, harassment, or abuse.

“Our priority isn’t to criminalise those who lack capacity,” PC Berni added. “It’s about ensuring victims are acknowledged and supported. Tackling this issue requires cultural change, better reporting systems, and proactive measures to protect NHS staff.”

If you’ve witnessed or been the victim of crime, please report it to us by calling 101 or through our website.

In an emergency always call 999.

Chief Constable fortnightly letter to the PCC

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:00:10 Z

In her latest letter to Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson, Chief Constable Catherine Roper sets out the significant decisions facing Wiltshire Police as the Police and Crime Panel reviews the budget and proposed precept for 2026/27.

➡️Wiltshire Police is currently required to deliver a minimum of £4.6m in savings for 2026/27 as part of a wider multi‑year savings strategy, ensuring the Force continues to operate efficiently while improving the service communities deserve.

➡️Chief Roper highlights the importance of full transparency, ahead of next week’s joint Facebook Live Q&A, where she and the PCC will answer public questions and outline their financial proposals.

➡️Residents are encouraged to take part in the precept consultation survey, emphasising the PCC’s responsibility for financial consultation with communities.

➡️Despite financial pressures, the shared commitment to strengthening trust, confidence and the effectiveness of policing across Wiltshire is re-affirmed.

➡️Reassurance is given that vetting processes remain robust — with full vetting carried out for all transferees, routine dip‑sampling of decisions, and continued progress on the recommendations from the HMICFRS integrity inspection following recent national concerns about vetting standards.

Read the full letter here 👉 bit.ly/ChiefsLetters

Register to join the joint Facebook Live Q&A with PCC Philip Wilkinson and Chief Constable Catherine Roper on 21 Jan, 6:30–7:30pm here 👉 fb.me/e/9RhtE6F6k

Take part in the precept consultation survey today 👉 https://bit.ly/PreceptConsultation2026

#UseYourVoice #MakingWiltshireSafer

Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 16 January 2026

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:36:49 Z

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

Yesterday, the Police and Crime Panel discussed the budget proposals and your proposed precept for the coming financial year.

Currently, it is anticipated that Wiltshire Police will need to deliver a minimum of £4.6m savings for 2026/2027, in order to deliver against a reduced budget.

I outlined how we will make these efficiencies in my extraordinary letter last week.

These decisions all form part of our comprehensive, multi-year savings strategy to ensure the organisation continues to operate as efficiently as possible whilst continuing to improve the services our communities rightly deserve.

It is important that we are fully transparent with regards to these significant financial decisions and, to facilitate this, you and I will be hosting a joint Facebook Live event next Wednesday (21st January) between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.

This will be an opportunity for us to answer questions from the public and to set out our proposals for both your office and the force respectively. It will be held on the main Wiltshire Police Facebook page and questions can be pre-submitted here or asked during the event.

As the accountable body for all financial consultation responsibilities with our communities, your office is currently consulting on an increase to the policing element of the council tax.

I would encourage anyone who would like to contribute to your considerations on the precept proposals to do so via the public survey found here.

Notwithstanding these financial challenges, we both remain absolutely committed to continuing to make significant improvements to our service - ensuring Wiltshire Police becomes one of the most effective and efficient forces in the country.

A core component of this will be to continue developing the trust and confidence our communities have in us, the decisions we make and the actions we take.

Last week, there was significant media coverage after the Metropolitan Police Service published a review into their vetting and hiring processes between 2013-2023.

It concluded that 5,100 recruits were subjected to limited checks and 3,338 existing officers and staff who were due for vetting renewal had only limited checks completed.

I wanted to take this opportunity to reassure you and our communities that our vetting process is robust and is continually reviewed.

Additionally, Wiltshire Police does not accept vetting completed by other Forces or agencies if someone is transferring into our organisation – we run our own vetting checks.

We also undertake routine dip sampling of decisions made by vetting analysts to check and test decision making.

The College of Policing and the Home Office are now considering the next steps following the Metropolitan Police Service review and we are awaiting any national recommendations.

Here in Wiltshire, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), published their integrity inspection report into our Force in October which covered vetting decisions, misconduct investigations and how we assess counter-corruption intelligence.

We welcome the transparency and rigour of the HMICFRS inspection process. Now, more than ever, it is right that this area of our business is independently scrutinised.

We accepted all the recommendations made to us by HMICFRS last year regarding the professional standards command within our organisation.

It is important to note that the inspection itself took place in January 2025 and, at the point of publication, many of the recommendations had been progressed.

Crucially, in terms of oversight and scrutiny, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Cooper is the strategic owner for vetting and Professional Standards within our organisation and is both proactively reviewing and strengthening all our processes.

Our communities can find out more about the national vetting standards by visiting the College of Policing’s Vetting Code of Practice.

Whilst a completely different area of our business, concerns have been raised to both of us recently regarding the safety of Wiltshire’s roads.

Therefore, I would like to close this letter by detailing some of our recent proactive work in improving road safety and denying criminals the use of our roads.

Last week, our Speed Enforcement Officers caught 88 drivers speeding on just one road in Swindon in less than an hour.

The team carried out speed checks at Holy Cross, Queens Drive between 10.35am and 11.25am last Thursday and the fastest vehicle was detected at 58mph – nearly double the 30mph speed limit.

As a result:

77 drivers will be offered a speed awareness course

Nine drivers will face fines and points

Two will be summonsed to court.

Speed enforcement is undertaken by a range of our frontline teams and is conducted across the county on a daily basis. Many of the local results are published on the Your Area section of our website here.

Our communities can also find out where speed enforcement sessions have been carried out, how often and the outcomes on the road safety section of your website.

This week, we also published the results of our local drink and drug driving operation which ran across December to support the national Op Limit campaign.

Over the month, 120 people were arrested for drink or drug driving related offences in our county. This is a 35% increase on drink or drug driving related arrests, compared to December 2024.

Of those arrested, approximately 40% were arrested on suspicion of drug driving related offences and the rest were arrested on suspicion of drink driving related offences.

Our officers are better equipped than ever to detect drug drivers, which is reflected in the significant number of drug-related arrests we made this month.

It’s completely irresponsible to get behind the wheel of a vehicle having consumed alcohol or illegal drugs – you are selfishly putting your own life and the lives of other road users in serious danger.

We are sharing more content with our communities on the work of our Roads Policing Unit - from evidence used to convict dangerous drivers to footage taken during pursuits. A range of videos can be found on our YouTube channel.

I would encourage all of our communities to visit the dedicated road safety section of our website for specific advice and guidance.

Kindest regards to you.

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

Community visits across the area with the mobile police station

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:17:18 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Your local Neighbourhood Policing Team will be out with the mobile police station next week, giving you the chance to:

✅ Speak to officers and PCSOs
✅ Share concerns or local information
✅ Get crime prevention advice
✅ Find out what we’re doing locally

Monday 19 January
📍 Devizes – Morrisons Car Park 9:30am – 10:30am
📍 Devizes – Market Place 11am – 12pm
📍 Devizes – Lidl Car Park 1:30pm – 2:30pm

Tuesday 20 January
📍 Froxfield Village Hall 3pm – 5pm

Wednesday 21 January
📍 Great Cheverell Village Hall 9am – 10am
📍 Preshute Church Car Park 3pm – 5pm

Thursday 22 January
📍 Liddiards Green, Ogbourne St George 3pm – 5pm

Friday 23 January
📍 Shalbourne (near The Plough Pub) 1:30pm – 3pm

Saturday 24 January
📍 Devizes – Market Place 10am – 12pm

Sunday 25 January
📍 Upavon Village Hall 10am – 11am

Come and say hello. There is no appointment needed - whether you’ve got an issue to raise, want some advice, or just fancy a quick chat.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Letter to residents reflecting on rural crime

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:05:01 Z

To Wiltshire Residents,

Firstly, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year. The year 2025 brought many challenges and successes, and we at Wiltshire Police are committed to building on these—particularly by working closely with our communities to prevent and solve crime, and to strengthen trust and confidence in policing.

As the County Hub Superintendent and Force lead for rural crime, I am responsible for delivering local policing across both urban and rural communities outside of Swindon. I lead a team of over 400 officers and staff who specialise in response, neighbourhood, and rural policing.

2025 has been a pivotal year for neighbourhood policing in Wiltshire. We have increased our presence across communities, and with problem-solving—alongside partner agencies—at the heart of our approach, we have secured over 25 property closure orders and community criminal behaviour orders (CBOs). These actions have helped protect the most vulnerable and target prolific offenders who persistently reoffend and cause harm to local residents and businesses.

One notable investigation began with the Chippenham neighbourhood team and led to two closure orders at town centre premises. This investigation into modern slavery and human trafficking was later taken on by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and uncovered a nationwide operation involving vulnerable women being exploited under the guise of health and well-being services. Success stories like this demonstrate our commitment and help improve public confidence in our service.

You may also have heard about our partnership work to reduce anti-social behaviour and shoplifting in Trowbridge town centre. At the start of last summer, some businesses on Fore Street were considering relocating due to concerns about street drinkers. The local neighbourhood team worked tirelessly throughout the busy summer period to respond to reports, and we were pleased to hear that local businesses now feel safer on the high street as a result of this work.

Between June and September, 86 arrests were made for 149 offences. Officers continue to hold regular meetings with town centre traders, providing a valuable platform for discussion and enabling businesses to raise concerns directly. This open dialogue has led to an increase in incident reporting, giving us a more accurate picture of the issues and allowing us to focus resources where they are needed most. We are now sharing some of these learnings with other areas of the county.

In November, the first Salisbury Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) was launched. This collaboration between businesses, the police, and the local authority aims to reduce crime, disorder, and anti-social behaviour in Salisbury by sharing real-time information, providing training, and fostering stronger community links for a safer environment. It is a business-led initiative focused on practical solutions such as intelligence sharing and training to deter crime affecting shops, workers, and visitors.

Wiltshire is a rural county, and we recognise that rural crime has a lasting impact on victims and places significant financial strain on businesses. Earlier this year, Operation Ragwort—a multi-agency, intelligence-led initiative—was launched to tackle organised rural crime across the South West, including theft of agricultural machinery and plant.

Between September 2024 and August 2025, hare coursing and poaching offences rose by 21.8%. However, we are making progress: since January 2025, 30 individuals have been arrested for these offences—a 500% increase compared to the previous year. We continue to deploy neighbourhood officers, drones, CID, and armed units to disrupt offenders at every stage. This sends a clear message: rural crime is treated with the seriousness it deserves, and we will not tolerate incursions on our countryside. Our efforts are working—engagement has increased, and reports of rural crime are up by 8.9% compared to last year.

We want to continue building on our engagement with local communities and are exploring new ways to strengthen trust and confidence. One idea is to set up a rural crime independent advisory group made up of diverse rural stakeholders such as farmers, landowners, rural residents, businesses, and wildlife groups. It is hoped the group will advise on rural crime priorities such as livestock theft, machinery theft, wildlife crime, fly-tipping, heritage crime, and anti-social behaviour in rural settings, as well as scrutinise Wiltshire Police's performance and identify gaps in our service. We hope to share more information on this in the coming months.

Finally, as we start a new year, I want to recognise the incredible efforts of our staff, officers, and volunteers. Without them, we could not keep Wiltshire safe. We currently have ten watch schemes, including rural-focused initiatives such as Dog, Horse, Farm, Heritage, Canal, and Horse Rider Watch.

We know we cannot police alone. We need the support of residents, community groups, and local businesses to help us identify and solve problems related to crime. Together, we can build positive relationships and mutual trust. If you would like more information on these schemes, please visit our website.

You can report crime online Report a crime | Wiltshire Police or by calling 101.

In an emergency always call 999.

You can also contact your local policing team through the Your Area section of our website, as well as finding out what is happening in your local area: Your area | Wiltshire Police

Superintendent James Brain, County Hub Commander

Chief Constable extraordinary letter to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 9 January 2026

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 15:15:57 Z

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

Before Christmas, Police Forces across England and Wales were provided with details of the Government funding settlement for the next financial year.

Whilst further details are to be provided, it is anticipated that Wiltshire Police will need to deliver a minimum of £4.6m savings for 2026/2027, in order to deliver against a reduced budget.

This week, the details of the funding and the core components of how these savings will be achieved, were provided by your office to the Police and Crime Panel ahead of the meeting next Thursday and made publicly available. This information is available via this link.

Following a Strategic and Financial Planning Summit I held with my Chief Officer Group in November, we have already identified the efficiencies currently required for the year ahead.

As with our Financial Review Programme (FRP), through which we identified much of the nearly £8m worth of savings for 2025/26, our priority remains achieving these savings in ways that minimise the impact on our people and on frontline delivery.

We must continue to focus on the function of our organisation rather than its form, ensuring that we protect the quality of service we provide to our communities and victims of crime.

Broadly speaking, the 2026/27 efficiencies will be achieved through a combination of:

Redesigning how our Local Policing, Specialist Operations and Crime Investigations commands are structured

Removing frozen posts - subject to appropriate scrutiny and consultation

Technology and equipment efficiencies aligned to our longer-term technology strategy

Further rationalisation of our estate footprint.

I want to be clear that we will not be reducing our police officer numbers.

Last January, I made a commitment to improving our visibility within our communities and public access to our services, despite the significant financial challenges we faced.

I am pleased to say that we more than doubled the use of mobile police stations out in our communities (from 175 deployments in 2024 to 416 in 2025), in addition to our neighbourhood teams attending 270 more local meetings and events (from 11,385 in 2024 to 11,655 last year).

This contributed to a significant step forward in the levels of trust and confidence our communities have in us. This was evidenced last year when Wiltshire Police was polled as the third most trusted force in England and Wales according to annual figures published by the Office of National Statistics.

I am committed to ensuring that future efficiencies and savings will be done in a sustainable and methodical way.

The required efficiencies for 2026/27 will be delivered through our Transformation Programme, led by Chief Superintendent Doug Downing and reporting into the Chief of Corporate Services, John Derryman.

This programme will be responsible not only for realising the savings required in 2026/27, but also for laying the foundations for our longer-term, five-year organisational transformation. This sits alongside and supports your proposed five-year Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Throughout the last year, Wiltshire Police demonstrated our ability to oversee significant financial reform, with the external scrutiny and support from you and your office. Last year, the level of savings ultimately required exceeded our initial forecasts due to unforeseen operational requirements, but we were able to meet that challenge because of the commitment, professionalism and resilience shown across our organisations.

Most of those savings came from the removal of vacant posts, alongside efficiencies within our estate and fleet, and we worked hard to limit the impact on people and reduce the number of individuals placed at risk.

You are currently consulting on an increase to the policing element of the council tax.

Whilst I recognise that you are accountable for all financial consultation responsibilities with our communities, I would encourage anyone who would like to contribute to your considerations on the precept proposals to do so via the public survey found here.

It is important that our communities are fully informed of these important financial decisions and, to facilitate this, you and I will be hosting a joint Facebook Live event on Wednesday 21st January between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.

I would like to publicly thank colleagues from both our organisations for their commitment to delivering the best possible service during a period of ongoing financial challenge.

Transparency will remain central to how we approach the ongoing Transformation Programme and resultant efficiencies, and I will ensure I keep you, the force and most importantly our communities informed throughout.

Kindest regards to you,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

Wiltshire Police faces funding challenge: commissioner urges £15 per year, per home, rise to protect services

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:18:08 Z

Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has urged residents to back a rise in police precept to protect policing services - warning that without it the level of policing service and hard-won improvements could be at risk.

Despite being one of England’s lowest-funded forces, Wiltshire Police has improved performance and trust but rising costs and a £4.6M savings target for 2026/27 mean ‘there are no easy options left’.

With the proposal Wiltshire residents will still pay less for policing than most in the south west and is the maximum allowed without triggering a costly referendum.

In light of this, PCC Philip Wilkinson has launched his Use Your Voice: Budget and Precept 2026/27 survey, inviting residents to share views on a proposed increase of £15 a year for a Band D property – just £1.25 a month.

The police precept, together with the Government grant, forms the entire policing budget for the county. Due to the national funding formula, Wiltshire Police remain one of the lowest-funded forces per head of population in England – receiving around £30 less per person for policing than the national average.

You can find out more information on the Precept here: www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/have-your-say/precept-2026

Use Your Voice and complete the survey now: https://bit.ly/PreceptConsultation2026

#MakingWiltshireSafer

Appeal for information following theft of saddles and bridles

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:21:01 Z

Officers investigating the theft of horse riding equipment, including saddles and bridles, would like to hear from anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously on Sprout Lane, Seend between 6pm on Saturday 3rd January and 9.45am the following morning.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Parton 0748@wiltshire.police.uk quoting log 54260000918

Meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team next week

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:30:44 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},
We’ll be out and about with the mobile police station next week and would love to hear from you. Whether you have a concern, an idea, or just want to say hello, please pop along and speak to the team at one of the following community consultations:

📍 Monday 12 January
Cricklade Leisure Centre
⏰ 3:30pm – 5:30pm

📍 Friday 16 January
St Michaels Car Park, Lyneham (opposite the Co-op)
⏰ 3:00pm – 4:00pm

📍 Saturday 17 January
Lydiard Millicent Village Hall
⏰ 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Your views matter, and these sessions are a great opportunity to raise local issues, ask questions, or find out more about what’s happening in your area.

We look forward to seeing you.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Neighbourhood Policing Team update - Westbury community drop-in sessions for February, March and April

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 11:42:40 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Your Neighbourhood Policing Team will be out and about over the coming months, visiting villages across the area and meeting residents face-to-face.

These informal drop-in sessions are a great opportunity to:

👋 Speak with the local policing team

💬 Share any local concerns, information, or issues affecting your area

📄 Get crime prevention advice and local policing updates

🤝 Help shape local policing priorities in your community.

📍 Upcoming dates and locations:

Sunday 2nd February 2026
⏰ 14:30 – 16:30
📌 The Baptist Chapel, Bratton (Revive Café)

Saturday 21st March 2026
⏰ 10:30 – 12:30
📌 Dilton Marsh Memorial Hall (Coffee Morning and Tabletop Sale)

Tuesday 28th April 2026
⏰ 10:30 – 11:30
📌 The Three Daggers, Edington (Coffee Morning)

No appointment needed. Just drop in, say hello, and have a chat with your local team.

We look forward to seeing you! ☕👮‍♀️👮‍♂️

Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 2 January 2026

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:35:06 Z

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson,

As we begin 2026, I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on the past year for Wiltshire Police. 2025 has involved a mixture of high operational demand and positive progress in areas that matter to the residents of Wiltshire.

We saw several serious incidents during the year which had a profound impact on our communities and our workforce. Across the county we have responded to incidents which have resulted in tragic loss of life, and where appropriate we have worked with the criminal justice process to secure convictions. We know that these cases bring deep distress to families and communities, and I again want to send our condolences to the friends and families who have suffered loss.

A significant step forward for Wiltshire Police is our improvement in public trust and confidence. Wiltshire Police is now the third most trusted force in England and Wales according to annual figures published by the Office of National Statistics.

The data shows that 58% of people believe Wiltshire Police do an excellent or good job, well above the UK average of 49%. This reflects the work my officers, staff and volunteers have undertaken to improve the service we provide to the communities of Wiltshire. The most important part of this statistic is knowing that when people need us most, they are more likely to pick up the phone.

Further data published by the Office for National Statistics in October 2025 showed a 4.5% reduction in weapon offences and a 6.5% reduction in theft offences in Wiltshire compared to the previous year. This reduction reflects the impact of increased Neighbourhood Policing, and other operational team, patrols; improved CCTV coverage, and collaborative work with local businesses to deter opportunistic theft and repeat offending.

In the last 12 months, Wiltshire Police has carried out a large number of rural operations to target criminals who focus on our rural communities. In December, my officers, along with yourself, attended a rural community event. I would like to thank the community members who have provided their expert knowledge to support us in tackling crimes such as hare coursing and organised machinery theft.

This year has seen us take a whole-Force approach to tackle this type of criminality, with specialist officers, Neighbourhood Policing Teams and intelligence teams taking part in operations. Let me be clear to both reassure rural communities and send a very direct message to those who commit rural criminality – like all behaviour that causes harm to others, rural crime will not be tolerated in Wiltshire, and 2026 will see greater proactive and robust policing activity to hold those responsible to account.

In February, we had the honour of presenting to Her Majesty The Queen when she visited Bowood House in Wiltshire. Hosted by the Chair of the Wiltshire Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Coalition, The Marchioness of Lansdowne, Her Majesty heard about the progress being made across the county to tackle violence against women and girls. The Coalition brings together partners from policing, members of the judiciary, representatives from domestic abuse organisations, and business leaders to improve prevention, support and outcomes for victims. The visit underlined the strength of collaborative working across agencies to address VAWG and reinforced our continued commitment to delivering professional, victim-focused policing in this area.

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) has remained a clear priority throughout 2025 and will continue into 2026. Wiltshire Police will continue to focus on supporting victims and holding perpetrators to account, while implementing the Government’s new VAWG strategy. Our Deputy Chief Constable will be working closely with the National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection to ensure Wiltshire Police is at the forefront of all opportunities to improve our service in this area.

Our ongoing commitment to the national Operation Soteria scheme aimed at increasing the number of adult rape and serious sexual offence (RASSO) cases reaching charge has seen Wiltshire Police achieve a 76% conviction rate in 2025.

To support our ongoing improvements to rape investigations we have continued to invest in training, including a recent Crown Prosecution Service and Police away day to strengthen operational relationships and improve decision making in RASSO investigations. This has received positive feedback, and further events are planned for 2026. We have also reinforced our victim centred approach through specialist training delivered by independent experts who have provided critical friend challenge to ensure pan-Force improvements.

Throughout 2025, we have also continued Project Vigilant deployments, which have proactively challenged predatory behaviour. Wiltshire Police has become a leading force in this space, delivering training to other forces and incorporating drones into deployments.

This year has also seen Project Vigilant used to develop our workforce and strengthen community engagement, with student police officers deployed on operations to gain early experience of proactive policing while building investigative skills, intelligence awareness and confidence in public engagement.

This work has been strengthened through our nationally recognised Vigilant Communities initiative, rolled out across Wiltshire to build community resilience against predatory behaviour. Training delivered by our specialist VAWG team helps trusted members of the public, “Vigilant Guardians”, to spot early signs of predatory behaviour, promote reporting and share intelligence that directly supports policing action.

Our 2024 stalking awareness campaign has continued have impact in 2025, with a 24.1% rise in reports. Alongside Project Vigilant and Vigilant Communities, this shows the value of partnership work and public engagement in tackling predatory behaviour.

Supporting and protecting children and young persons is a core part of our policing approach and a personal priority in my role as the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) lead for Children and Young Persons (CYP).

In January, the Youth Justice Minister visited Wiltshire Police to see how we are working with partners to intervene early where children are at risk of exploitation, violence or criminalisation. The visit recognised the progress being made locally through strong partnership working with youth justice services, education, health and voluntary organisations.

Across the year, we have continued to embed child-centred policing principles in line with national NPCC guidance. This includes recognising that children who come into contact with the police are often victims, even where criminal behaviour is present.

In particular, a focus has been on improvements within custody, where changes have been made to better reflect the needs of CYP during this extremely impactful stage of the criminal justice process.

This includes:

Enhanced safeguarding processes for CYP brought into custody

Greater use of appropriate adults and early involvement of partner agencies

Improved environments and procedures to reduce distress and minimise time spent in custody

Stronger scrutiny of decision-making where detention is considered necessary

We have also continued a range of preventative and engagement activities aimed at reducing harm and building trust with CYP, including:

Police Challenge Days with Girlguiding and Scouts

School and community-based knife crime and exploitation awareness work

Mobile police station visits and neighbourhood engagement focused on youth concerns

Continued use of diversionary outcomes where appropriate

There remains more to do, particularly as we continue to see crimes linked to vulnerability, mental health and exploitation. However, the progress made this year provides a strong foundation as we move forward.

Wiltshire Police is recognised as a national leader in the use of Out of Court Resolutions for CYP. This reflects our focus on early intervention and appropriate diversion, with national data placing Wiltshire among the strongest forces for positive outcomes for young persons.

However, educating and engaging CYP does not prevent us from holding them to account. For example - Operation Jetsom, which was the 2025 proactive operation to tackle illegal e-scooter and e-bike usage, began in July with a month of highly publicised education to guide people as to what was acceptable and what was not in terms of e-bikes and e-scooters. In August, the operation then moved to enforcement, and Wiltshire Police seized and destroyed over 140 illegal e‑scooters and modified e‑bikes to reduce harm, as well as providing further education to users to make it clear that breaches of the law will be addressed.

In October, following the Panorama programme highlighting failures within the Metropolitan Police, I wrote openly to you to reaffirm our values and the standards expected within Wiltshire Police.

I would like to take the opportunity to reiterate that I expect the very highest level of professionalism, care and diligence from each of my officers, staff and volunteers. Wherever these standards fall short we will continue to deal with misconduct robustly with transparency.

Our communities can find out more about our misconduct processes, see upcoming hearings and read misconduct hearing outcomes on this section of our website.

The creation of the Force Organisational Learning Board has improved how we identify, share and act on our commitment to continuous improvement. Accountability and learning are critical to improving the service we provide to the communities of Wiltshire.

December 2025 saw the conclusion of the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry, with the Inquiry Chair, Lord Hughes, publishing his report. At the heart of this Inquiry are Dawn’s family and loved ones, and I would once again like to acknowledge the profound impact this tragedy has had on them and how sorry we are for their loss.

As I have mentioned before, this was a significant moment for Wiltshire Police and our communities, providing an opportunity to reflect professionally on events in 2018 and to commit to learning any further lessons identified in the final report.

In addition to our 21 self-identified improvements, we fully accept all the recommendations made in the Inquiry report, and I am committed to ensuring these will be implemented via the Force’s Organisational Learning Board.

Over the past year, Wiltshire Police has continued to manage significant financial pressures. As you are aware, we entered this financial year knowing we needed to save £6.8 million. During the year, further funding challenges required this saving to increase to nearly £8 million. We put in place a strong financial review programme and delivered those savings while continuing to improve outcomes for our communities. With continued pressure on public finances as we enter 2026, this work remains ongoing and will continue to require difficult but necessary decisions.

Looking ahead, we welcome the findings of our next HMICFRS PEEL inspection in Spring 2026 and the recommendations set out in the forthcoming Government Policing Reform White Paper. Both will provide important external scrutiny and direction as we continue to improve our service to the people of Wiltshire.

I would like to recognise the support and challenge provided by our partners and by you as Police and Crime Commissioner. As we begin the year ahead, our focus remains on protecting the most vulnerable, preventing harm and supporting our workforce to ensure we are keeping Wiltshire safe.

Finally, 2025 also saw several Wiltshire Police representatives receiving awards. I am immensely proud of the recognition received by our officers, staff and volunteers including:

A British Empire Medal awarded to Special Constable Damien Penman

National awards recognising innovation in robotic process automation

Bravery and service awards for officers responding to violent incidents

National recognition for disability inclusion and supported employment

These awards are testament, once again, that Wiltshire Police officers, staff and volunteers demonstrate the highest values of public service, and I am so very grateful for their commitment.

Kindest regards and best wishes for 2026.

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

Enquiries continue into Christmas Day murder in Devizes

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 13:11:56 Z

Enquiries continue into the death of a woman in her 80s, who was found deceased on Christmas Day in Devizes.

Officers responded to reports of a serious assault at 8.10am on Thursday inside a flat in Keepers Road. Police attended with our colleagues from the South Western Ambulance Service. Sadly, despite their best efforts, the victim was declared dead at the scene.

A 63-year-old woman, who is known to the victim, was arrested on suspicion of murder. She is now in custody for questioning.

We are not looking for anybody else in connection with the incident.

Formal identification is yet to take place. A preliminary postmortem has been carried out and her death is being treated as murder. Further information is needed to establish the cause of death.

A cordon set up at the address is still in place while a full investigation is carried out.

Local residents will see an increased policing presence and we would urge anyone with concerns, or if you have any information that could help with our enquiries, to speak to one of our officers.

New photo released in search for missing Salisbury man

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 12:07:19 Z

We are releasing this CCTV image as we continue to search for a man missing from Salisbury.

Philip, 81, was last seen in the Fountain Way area at around 10.30am yesterday morning (28/12), and we are increasingly concerned for his welfare.

He is described as approximately 5ft 7ins tall, of average build, with white/grey hair. We have obtained this CCTV image that captured Philip on South Western Road shortly after he went missing. He is seen to be wearing a dark coat, jeans and brown shoes.

Inspector Emily Grigor said: "Given his age, we are increasingly concerned for Philip, who has not been seen for 24 hours. He left the care unit where he was staying and may be trying to make his way to Bath, where his wife lives.

"We are working with local bus companies and partner agencies to try to find Philip. I would urge anyone in the Fountain Way area to check in and around their properties, including gardens, and also review any private CCTV or doorbell footage for sightings of Philip."

If you can help us locate Philip, please contact us on 999 quoting log number 121 of yesterday's date (28/12).

Police Confirm No Weapon Found After Ludwell Incident

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 21:03:16 Z

Officers responded at around 2:30pm today (28/12) to reports of a person in the Ludwell area allegedly carrying a weapon.

Upon arrival, officers quickly established that this was not the case. No weapons were found, and the area was declared safe.

A man was taken to hospital for treatment related to mental health concerns.

Witness Appeal: Criminal Damage on Hillingdon Road, Swindon

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 16:38:29 Z

We are appealing for witnesses following reports of criminal damage offences in Hillingdon Road, Swindon.

The offences, which relate to damage to property and vehicles, occurred on multiple days between December 19 and December 23, 2025.

The first incident occurred at around 1200 noon on December 19 with the following incidents happening in the early hours of the following days.

The suspects involved were on electric bikes, wearing dark clothing and balaclavas.

A/Detective Sergeant Will Saunders said: “Creating safer public spaces is a priority for Wiltshire Police. These incidents are deeply concerning for the local community, and we are taking them seriously. We’ve increased high-visibility patrols in the area to reassure residents and prevent further damage.

"We believe that a white van was in the area during an incident on the 19th of December, and we are keen to speak with the driver, who may hold vital information.

"If you have information that could help with our enquiries or have witnessed suspicious activity in the area, please contact us on 101. Even the smallest detail could be the missing piece that helps us stop this behaviour and bring those responsible to justice."

You can also report through our website or anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 19 December 2025

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:09:07 Z

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

I know there are many in our local communities who are still deeply shocked and saddened by the terrorist incident on Bondi Beach in Australia earlier this week.

I am conscious that this will undoubtedly have an impact on people around the world, including here in Wiltshire.

It will be particularly difficult for many of those in our Jewish communities specifically, as this happened on the first day of Hanukkah.

There is no place for hate crime or violence anywhere in our society, and we remain committed to supporting and safeguarding anyone who is targeted because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.

Should anyone have any specific concerns or questions, I would encourage them to contact their Neighbourhood Policing Team. More information can be found on our website.

Our officers will continue to engage with all our faith-based communities and leaders to support wherever possible.

The thoughts of everyone at Wiltshire Police remain with the victims of this incident and their loved ones.

This week, the Government published its Violence against Women and Girls strategy which outlines significant reforms to better protect our communities.

For policing, the plan outlines the following changes:

Every Force will introduce specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams

Domestic Abuse Protection Orders will be introduced which will cover all forms of domestic abuse including economic abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour, stalking and honour-based abuse. There will be no maximum time limits placed on the orders, meaning victims can be provided with protection for as long as they need

A new, national team will be introduced specifically to tackle violence against women and girls online using covert and intelligence techniques.

You can read more about this national strategy here.

I welcome any opportunity – including new legislation – which will ultimately make those who feel most vulnerable in our communities safer.

In Wiltshire, we are already utilising innovative ways to reduce violence against women and girls.

In 2021, we adopted Project Vigilant which focuses on tackling behaviour that makes women and girls feel unsafe in public spaces by intervening before crimes are committed.

It focuses on predatory behaviour displayed by potential offenders - not on others changing their habits - and aims to disrupt the early signs of harmful activity.

Now, Wiltshire Police are one of the leading police forces taking Project Vigilant further by providing training to other police forces, providing training to new police officers joining the force, and with the introduction of drones during a deployment.

We deploy highly visible patrols alongside specialist plain-clothes officers, supported by CCTV networks, in areas where intelligence shows there is concern. When we see worrying behaviour, we intervene to protect those at risk and, where necessary, use our powers to disperse individuals who pose a threat.

We have increased our Project Vigilant deployments in Swindon and Salisbury over the last few weeks due to the higher number of people out enjoying the festive period.

We have also introduced a Vigilant Communities project, where we train local volunteers to become Vigilant Guardians who can help spot early warning signs and raise awareness of what predatory behaviour looks like. Their involvement enhances the work of our officers by strengthening community safety, reinforcing that preventing violence against women and girls is a shared responsibility.

I encourage anyone who witnesses predatory behaviour to report what they’ve seen; even details that seem small can help us build a clearer picture and keep people safe.

More information about Project Vigilant can be found on our website here, and a more detailed explanation of what a Project Vigilant deployment involves can be found on this YouTube video.

Project Vigilant is one part of wider efforts by Wiltshire Police to reduce Violence Against Women and Girls, but I thought particularly relevant to mention at this time of year when people are out enjoying the festivities of the winter season.

However, I also wanted to mention other efforts that are being made by colleagues and partners Wiltshire Police to hold to account all perpetrators of violence against women and girls:

Becoming members of an extremely impactive coalition called Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) in Wiltshire last year, comprising of members of the public, members of the judiciary, police, representatives from domestic abuse organisations, and business leaders. The EVAWG act as a critical friend to our organisation - providing insight and guidance to improve our service to victims and communities. Collectively, we made a commitment to ensure that our approach now firmly centres on the voices and lived experiences of victims

Our commitment to tackling Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) has been strengthened by our work under Operation Soteria which is transforming the national approach to RASSO. Wiltshire Police was one of 19 forces who took part in the initial concept stages of Operation Soteria in 2021, and recent independent reviews have reflected the continued progress in our performance, holding perpetrators to account, and supporting victims

Last year, we launched the Walk and Talk scheme – which sees our officers meet in person with local women to get an insight into how they feel living in Wiltshire and what we and our partners can do to improve women’s safety.

Supporting the Salisbury Soroptimists in the launch of their ‘Fresh Thoughts’ guidance booklet on November 27, which supports victims of domestic abuse with guidance as to how the justice system works, and useful organisations that can provide support. More information about this booklet, which has already been distributed across Wiltshire Police teams to improve our service to victims and communities, can be found here: Fresh Thoughts | SI Salisbury | SIGBI

Throughout October, we intensified our efforts to improve awareness and our response to domestic abuse incidents across the county. This initiative included enhanced training for officers and staff at all levels—from frontline responders to investigators and partner services. You can read more about this work here.

The integration of Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) and Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs) within our organisation. Their expertise has been instrumental in helping to shape a more effective and compassionate approach to investigations. These highly skilled professionals have worked alongside our teams from the outset of enquiries, offering guidance, safeguarding support and continuity of care through the custody process and beyond.

We have made significant improvements to way we manage the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), also known as Clare’s Law. This scheme enables police forces to disclose information to a victim or potential victim of domestic abuse about their partner’s or ex-partner’s previous abusive or violent offending. This also applies to requests made by concerned relatives or family members. In response to critical service failures we identified in 2023, we have strengthened the oversight and leadership of the Domestic Abuse Safeguarding Team, appointed more Clare’s Law specialists and introduced more robust policies. You can make a request under Clare’s Law here. Our website also has a dedicated domestic abuse support page which our communities can access here.

This work is fundamental to our commitment of Keeping Wiltshire Safe.

Keeping our communities safe must include within the home, out in our city, towns and villages and when using our road network.

Following our recent participation at the Road Safety Summit on November 28, which was hosted by Wiltshire Council and attended by yourself also, policing teams across Wiltshire have increased patrols along our local roads in a bid to prevent drink or drug driving throughout December, as part of the national Operation Limit campaign, and deny criminals the use of the road.

During the first two weeks of the dedicated operation, from December 1st – 15th, we arrested 14 people for drug driving offences and 40 people for drink driving offences.

Last night, we published a video on Facebook page which illustrates the lethal dangers of drug driving. You can watch this here.

Improving road safety is not something that policing can do alone, so we work closely with our partners, including local authorities and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, via the Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership. More information about this partnership can be found on Wiltshire Council's website.

This week, your office announced the purchase of six acres of land at Old Sarum near Salisbury to deliver our new Southern Policing Hub. The modern, fit-for-purpose facility will provide a permanent base for officers, staff and volunteers, improving frontline policing, visibility and accessibility for our local communities.

The hub will house response and neighbourhood teams and other operational services, supporting faster deployment across Salisbury and surrounding rural areas, improving response times, and providing sustainable infrastructure for future demand.

Despite the financial pressures facing policing, investing in the right estate is essential to maintain effective service delivery and reinforces our long-term commitment to keeping Wiltshire safe.

Finally, as we approach Christmas, I would like to acknowledge the commitment shown by many of our officers, staff, and volunteers at this time of year, with so many continuing to work throughout the holiday period.

I want to offer my sincere thanks to each and every one of them for their unwavering dedication and service over the festive season.

While recognising that not everyone celebrates Christmas, I hope this winter period provides an opportunity for everyone to pause, reflect, and spend time with those closest to them.

For those who do celebrate, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Kindest regards to you,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

Taxi marshals rolled out in Salisbury for safer Christmas nights

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:16:08 Z

Taxi marshals have been deployed in Salisbury over the festive period to help people get home safely and support the nighttime economy in the city.

The marshals, which started last Friday (December 12) are responsible for managing the main taxi areas in the city centre, controlling queues and helping vulnerable people find licensed transport home. AEC Protection, who currently provide ASB wardens in the city, will deploy two marshals from 10pm-4.30am on the following dates:

Friday19th

Saturday 20th

Wednesday 24th

Friday 26th

Saturday 27th

Wednesday 31st

The marshals are linked directly to the council’s CCTV control room as well as the local Neighbourhood Police Team. This is intended to speed up responses when incidents occur and provide additional oversight of activity around the main taxi areas.

The city centre also benefits from having street pastors present, whose kit includes bottles of water, lollipops, and emergency space blankets, as well as a dustpan and brush to clear up broken glass.

The taxi marshals form part of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s “Getting You Home Safe” campaign, which highlights the measures being undertaken to improve public safety at night. This includes street pastors, safety wardens, WAVE training and the Ask for Angela scheme.

The campaign also encourages people to plan ahead, look out for each other, and use personal safety apps to stay connected. Advice on safe travel is available through Wiltshire Police’s Travel Safe webpage and guidance from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. People travelling over the festive period will also be able to send a text message to the British Transport Police directly and discreetly on 61016, in order to report non-emergency crime or concerns.

For more news from the Office of the Police and Crime
Commissioner, visit www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk/about-us/news

Wiltshire Police Urge Vigilance After Spate of Burglaries in the Marlborough & Ramsbury areas

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:40:41 Z

Wiltshire Police are urging communities to be extra vigilant following multiple burglaries across the east of the county.

The incidents, which occurred between December 8 and December 15, have involved men dressed in dark clothing and face coverings carrying out targeted searches of empty properties between 5.30pm and 9pm. Jewellery to the value of £600,000 have been stolen in the burglaries and a Land Rover, which was found parked nearby the following day.

Detective Inspector Steve Edwards, who leads the Burglary team, said: ““As you’d imagine, these break-ins have caused considerable distress, due to the extremely sentimental items taken from both properties.

We believe these incidents may be linked to an organised crime group targeting isolated estates, as the burglaries appear to be highly sophisticated.

"The offenders have specifically targeted safes containing high-value items such as jewellery and cash.

"We are actively responding to these crimes and working closely with other forces to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”

We would urge people to:

check their home security

conceal or add extra layers of security onto precious and expensive items and cash

Record details and take photos of all precious personal items and store them securely

Report all suspicious activities, individuals and vehicles as soon as possible

You can find more crime prevention advice on our website: Keep burglars out of your property | Wiltshire Police

Detective Inspector Steve Edwards added: "We would also appeal to jewellers that if you have received or been offered for sale suspicious items please let us know."

If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact us on 101 quoting reference number 54250160575 or complete our online appeals form.

Wiltshire Police Urge Vigilance After Spate of Burglaries in the Marlborough & Ramsbury areas

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:38:57 Z

Wiltshire Police are urging communities to be extra vigilant following burglaries across the east of the county.

The incidents, which occurred between December 8 and December 15, have involved three men dressed in dark clothing and face coverings, approaching large country properties across fields, carrying out targeted searches when the victims are out, between 5.30pm and 9pm. Safe’s containing jewellery and cash to the value of £600,000 have been forced open or stolen in the burglaries which have taken place in areas surrounding Marlborough and Ramsbury.

Detective Inspector Steve Edwards said: ““As you’d imagine, these break-ins have caused considerable distress with sentimental items taken from both properties.

We believe these incidents may be linked to an organised crime group targeting isolated estates, as the burglaries appear to be highly sophisticated and offending both inside and outside of Wiltshire’s borders.

"The offenders have specifically targeted safes containing high-value items such as jewellery and cash.

"We are actively responding to these crimes and working closely with other forces to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”

We would urge people to:

check their home security

conceal or add extra layers of security onto precious and expensive items and cash.

Record details and take photos of all precious personal items and store them securely

Report all suspicious activities, individuals, and vehicles that you haven’t seen in rural areas during the hours of darkness.

You can find more crime prevention advice on our website: Keep burglars out of your property | Wiltshire Police

Detective Inspector Steve Edwards added: "We would also appeal to jewellers that if you have received or been offered for sale suspicious items please let us know."

If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact us on 101 quoting reference number 54250160575 or complete our online appeals form.

Continued focus on proactive policing and making Salisbury safer this Christmas

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:14:54 Z

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and Wiltshire Police are continuing their commitment to tackling retail crime and antisocial behaviour in Salisbury as part of the ongoing Winter of Action campaign.

This seasonal focus builds on the everyday, all-year-round work of Wiltshire Police’s neighbourhood policing teams and partners to keep the city safe and welcoming.

Through Operation Dasher, officers have already carried out several deployments during the first two weeks of December, and this activity will continue in the run-up to Christmas and into the New Year. This includes high visibility patrols, including joint patrols with Salisbury BID in addition to community and business engagement.

Four people have already been arrested because of Operation Dasher, including a prolific offender for going equipped with a foil lined bag, another for breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) and two others for shoplifting with one of those being charged, remanded and sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment.

As part of that commitment, local businesses have received Christmas cards from the recently launched Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP), which brings together the OPCC, police, Salisbury BID, local authorities and businesses, encouraging them to report crime and antisocial behaviour, a reminder that all reports are taken seriously and that no incident or theft is too minor to report.

Police and Crime Commissioner Phil Wilkinson said: “Retail crime, antisocial behaviour and violence in the night time economy are issues we work on all year round and Winter of Action is about reinforcing that commitment during a time when our city is at its busiest.

“By working with businesses through Salisbury BID and the BCRP with the support of Wiltshire Police’s neighbourhood teams, we’re making Salisbury safer and ensuring that those who both live in and visit the city have a safe festive season.”

Inspector Tina Osborn, Salisbury Neighbourhood Policing Team, added:
“Neighbourhood officers are out every day engaging with businesses and the public.

“Operation Dasher is about visibility and reassurance, but it’s also about prevention, making sure offenders know we’re here and that crime will not be tolerated.

“Salisbury is not an easy target for those committing crime in our city and we will work with our partners to ensure that those intent on causing harm are promptly and proactively dealt with.

“We want everyone to enjoy Salisbury safely this Christmas.”

The mobile police station will be in and around Salisbury this week, providing a visible point for public engagement and advice. You can find the timings for this on the Your Area section of Wiltshire Police’s website.

Report incidents:

If a crime is in progress: Call 999

Non-emergencies: Dial 101 or report online at www.wiltshire.police.uk

For more information about the Salisbury BCRP and how to get involved, visit: Business Crime Reduction Partnership

Land Secured for New Southern Policing Hub

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 15:39:07 Z

Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson has announced a major step forward in delivering a new policing facility for south Wiltshire with the purchase of six acres of land at Old Sarum, near Salisbury.

The site will become home to the Southern Policing Hub - a modern, fit-for-purpose, base for Wiltshire Police officers, staff and volunteers, designed to enhance frontline policing and better meet the needs of local communities.

This purchase marks a milestone in the long-running Safer South Wiltshire programme, which began after a comprehensive review of Wiltshire Police’s operational estate commissioned by Mr Wilkinson in 2021.

The review, revisited by Chief Constable Catherine Roper in 2023, concluded that a new solution was needed to meet current and future policing demands in the south of the county.

Since then, the OPCC and Wiltshire Police have worked closely together to identify a permanent, strategically located base. After assessing multiple sites for accessibility, cost and operational suitability, Old Sarum emerged as the preferred location in 2022 following detailed analysis of requirements, projected demand and opportunities for improved community engagement.

To find out more visit: Land Secured for New Southern Policing Hub

www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk

The Salisbury Neighbourhood Team are coming to your local area with the Mobile Police Station!

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:41:03 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

This week, the Salisbury Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) are out and about with the Mobile Police Station.

Come along for a chat, raise any concerns or just to say hello at the following locations:

(Today) Monday 15th December:

11:00 –15:00 - Salisbury Market Square (Body Worn Video Review Event)

Tuesday 16th December:

08:30 - 09:30 - Wilton Market Square

Alderbury and Landford - times and locations to be confirmed.

Wednesday 17th December:

08.30 - 10.30 - Old Sarum Community Centre, Car Park

10.45 - 12.45 - Longhedge Spar, Car Park

13.00 - 15.00 - The Green, Laverstock

Friday 19th December

14:30- 17:00 - Salisbury District Hospital, Entrance B

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Increased rural patrols following surge in hare coursing

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:21:48 Z

Wiltshire Police has increased patrols and community engagement across the county following a surge in hare coursing activity.

Between September 2024 and August 2025, hare coursing and poaching offences rose by 21.8%. But the Force is also arresting more people. Since January, 30 individuals have been arrested for hare coursing or poaching.

The courts have convicted seven offenders, issuing fines totalling £2,892 under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act. A further four cases are pending prosecution, sending a clear message: rural crime will not be tolerated.

On Monday, Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, joined officers from Wiltshire Police, local farmers and the media to raise awareness of the problems rural communities are facing and to work together to target those threatening to harm our communities.

Farmers described the impact of rural crime on their financial and emotional well-being. One farmer said they had been targeted in the Pewsey Vale area around 10 times in the last month.

He told officers, "The impact on the farm is the trashing of crops and the cost of the added security. We've spent an absolute fortune on ditching and fencing, extra CCTV and lighting.

"Every single night, I go out and drive the perimeter of the farm to make sure gates are still locked and fences are still up and there are no lights where there shouldn't be lights.

"I know my wife has a bit of a moment every time I leave and says 'just be careful'.

"There's a lot of people who don't know what's going on and I'd like to ask anyone who sees anything suspicious to report it. If you see lights on in a field at night and they're not on a tractor, particularly if it's going at speed or you see guys getting out of a 4x4 with dogs, call the local farmer or call the police. The police are trying their hardest to catch these people but the crime is committed so quickly. We need as much information to support them as we can."

Another farmer described hearing noises just before he went to bed and saw two vehicles driving past his house down a dead end road. Moments later big lamps went on in a field.

Operation Ragwort targets criminal gangs involved in the theft of agricultural machinery, poaching, hare coursing, and fly-tipping and was set up by the five Police and Crime Commissioners in the south west after residents raised their concerns about the response to rural crime.

Philip Wilkinson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, is the PCC lead for rural crime in south west and sits on the board of the National Rural Crime Network:

“The fact that we have people coming out with us from the rural communities, not only reassures them of the work being done to protect them from a very real threat, it also allows us to utilise their local knowledge.

“By working with our partners, the farmers and those who live in the rural communities, we can draw on their expertise and the expertise of the police to create a more composite approach.”

Wiltshire Police has utilised a whole-Force approach to try to tackle the growing problem, with specialised officers, Neighbourhood Policing Teams and intelligence teams taking part in Operation Ragwort.

Inspector Andy Lemon is the tactical lead for rural crime. He said,

“We’re mobilising neighbourhood officers, drones, CID and armed units to hit offenders at every stage.

"This sends a clear message that rural crime is treated with the seriousness it deserves, and we will not tolerate incursions on our countryside.

"But this is not something the police can tackle alone. We need residents to report suspicious activity as soon as they see it – either online, by calling 101, or in an emergency by dialling 999. This information helps build intelligence, target offenders and keep our countryside safe.”

Across the week officers have been engaging with the rural community, carrying out surveys around their concerns. High visibility patrols were also conducted in areas that have reported rural crime.

Wiltshire Police works with neighbouring forces as intelligence shows that a large number of suspects travel into Wiltshire from other areas to commit these offences such as Somerset, Hampshire, Sussex, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Cardiff, Kent and Bristol.

In the last 12 months Wiltshire Police has carried out a large number of rural operations to target criminals who focus on our rural communities. They include:

3 Regional Operation Ragwort

22 dedicated operations in partnership with local Neighbourhood Policing Teams

Operation Ternary was set up during May 2025 with TVP and Hampshire Isle of Wight Police, under a new working alliance to police our borders

Rural Crime Week of Action took place in September 2025 in support of the rural crime network. This involved a week of partnership working across the Force.

7 partnership operations undertaken with Wiltshire Council Enforcement Team and Environment Agency in the last 6 months

5 Items of suspected Stolen Plant recovered in the last 3 months

How are we tackling violence against women and girls in Wiltshire?

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:40:09 Z

Wiltshire Police continues to carry out regular Project Vigilant deployments, which consist of intelligence-led patrols of hotspot locations to identify potential sexual predators and prevent sexual violence against women and girls (VAWG) across the county.

Wiltshire Police first adopted the Project Vigilant initiative in 2021, following its launch by Thames Valley Police in 2019.

What happens during a Project Vigilant deployment?

During a Project Vigilant deployment, a range of departments come together to search for people exhibiting predatory behaviour. This includes a joined-up approach between uniformed officers, plain clothes officers, and the Drone Unit with support from local council CCTV teams. Officers in plain clothes mingle in amongst crowds and are specially trained to spot signs of predatory behaviour. The behaviour can be anything from a man loitering outside a bar with seemingly no reason to be there, to a man leading a woman away from a bar or her friends. Once this behaviour has been identified, uniformed officers intervene and take appropriate action. The appropriate safeguarding for the woman involved, such as calling a taxi or finding their friend group, is then arranged.

If it is deemed appropriate, officers can exclude a person from a specific area using a Section 35 Dispersal Order under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, 2014. Any intelligence gathered during a Project Vigilant deployment is analysed by researchers and analysts within Wiltshire Police’s Intelligence Unit and informs where the next deployment is based. Suspects are monitored by uniformed officers who carrying out home visits in the subsequent days to enable the person’s risk to be assessed and managed appropriately to prevent any criminal offences from taking place.

Detective Inspector Troy Smith, of the VAWG Team at Wiltshire Police, is the force strategic lead for Project Vigilant.

DI Smith said: “Rape and serious sexual offences can have a devastating and lasting impact on the victims. We work tirelessly to protect the public from sexual violence and bring offenders to justice. Through implementing Project Vigilant, we aim to proactively intercept some of our most serious potential offenders and reduce the risk of serious harm to women and girls. Project Vigilant is focused on the offenders’ behaviours, and we seek to actively challenge ‘red flag’ behaviour to enable women and girls to go about their daily tasks without fear or the need to change their behaviour.

“Our ambition is to make Wiltshire a hostile environment for sexual predators. Our continued Project Vigilant deployments are building an ever-stronger intelligence picture, so much so that, in our October deployment, we gathered a record amount of intelligence on suspected predators.”

What else is Wiltshire Police doing to tackle violence against women and girls?

Project Vigilant is just one of the initiatives that Wiltshire Police has implemented to end violence against women and girls. Our ongoing commitment to the national Operation Soteria scheme aimed to increase the number of adult rape and serious sexual assault cases reaching charge, has seen Wiltshire Police achieve a 76% conviction rate in the year to date.

Detective Superintendent Lucy Thorne is the force lead for rape and serious sexual assault (RASSO).

Det Supt Thorne said: “Violence against women and girls is a national epidemic and we can never underestimate the impact of this horrendous crime on victims. We have made consistent improvements to our investigative processes to improve justice for victims. This year, we have secured custodial sentences of over 150 years for serious sexual offenders. Part of our improvements have included developing a more suspect-focussed approach to our investigations. Similarly to Project Vigilant deployments, this means focusing on the behaviours of perpetrators to try and prevent offences before they are able to happen.

“Last week The Angiolini Inquiry Part 2 First Report was published, which sets key recommendations in relation to improving how we manage and respond to sexually motivated crimes against women in public. Upon review of those recommendations, we are pleased that we are already committed to several of the improvements suggested in the report.”

Det Supt Thorne continues: “In May this year, we launched a multi-agency tasking and co-ordination process (MATAC). This unites policing teams with our partners to target, disrupt, and engage with offenders who pose the most risk to the public. Operation Soteria is a transformation journey. We continue to work with support services within Wiltshire to drive improvement to our response to serious sexual offences and provide the best support to our victims.”

How can you help?

DI Smith concludes: “We remain absolutely committed to ending violence against women and girls. I ask that any suspected predatory behaviour is reported as intelligence to the police. We only need one small piece of information to connect the dots to enable us to remove a dangerous predator from our streets.”

Wiltshire Police need intelligence submissions with as much detail as possible about potential offenders to help bring offenders to justice. Reports can be made via the website or by calling 101. Anonymous reports can be made to Crimestoppers.

Want to know more?

To watch a Project Vigilant deployment in action and hear more from our VAWG and Intelligence teams, click here.

For more information about Project Vigilant, recent police work tackling VAWG and how you can become a Vigilant Guardian in your community, click here.

Project Vigilant compliments the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon’s ‘Getting You Home Safe’ campaign. This campaign highlights the partnership initiatives in place to keep the public safe at night and ensure they can get home safely during the festive season.

Courier Fraud - How to spot the scam

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:21:51 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

There has been an 11% increase nationally between September and October 2025 in Courier Fraud cases.

What is courier fraud:

Courier Fraud occurs when a fraudster contacts a victim by telephone or sometimes in person usually pretending to be a police officer, bank official or another trusted organisation.

They will typically tell the victim a business, such as a currency exchange, bank or jewellers, is operating fraudulently and they require assistance to help secure evidence.

Victims are then manipulated into believing they are assisting with an investigation. They may be instructed to visit their bank to withdraw cash, exchange money for foreign currency, or purchase high-value items such as jewellery, watches, cryptocurrency, or gold bullion.

These items are then handed over to a so-called courier for examination - who is, in fact, a fraudster. In some cases, victims are coerced into surrendering personal belongings including bank cards, mobile phones, computers, and other expensive items. These handovers typically occur in person but can also take place via post.

The police, your bank or any other trusted organisation will:

Never contact you to withdraw cash or transfer money to help secure your account.

Never ask you to purchase or send cash, foreign currency, jewellery, gold bullion, crypto or other items

Never ask a courier to collect or you to post cash or other expensive goods for safe keeping

Never will ask you to play a proactive part in an investigation

Never call you to ask you to verify your personal details, banking information or PIN by phone or offer to pick up your card or pin by courier.

Hang up if you get a call like this. If you are told to call another number immediately to verify the person on the phone, hang up the phone and wait five minutes before using the same phone line; fraudsters may stay on the line after you hang up and listen in. Alternatively, use a different line altogether to call your bank or the police.

For any further advice on Fraud, you can get in touch direct:

PC 2290 Becky Grist - Fraud Prevent Officer

Email: becky.grist@wiltshire.police.uk

Video: A message on rural crime from ACC Deborah Smith

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:04:11 Z

Dear resident of Wiltshire,

I would like to take the opportunity to speak to you about what Wiltshire Police is doing to tackle rural crime as the portfolio holder of local policing and specialist operations.

We have dedicated this week to raising awareness for reporting rural crime in our county as we continue our commitment to preventing this type of crime and bringing offenders to justice.

Wiltshire Police has seen an 8.9 per cent increase in reports of rural crime this year and it is an issue we are treating seriously.

For more information on what we are doing about rural crime in Wiltshire, please watch my latest vlog available on YouTube - https://youtu.be/omTxTzRafMk

My ask of you is that you continue to report rural crime to us either online, by calling 101 (or 999 if the crime is in progress) or by approaching an officer.

As ever, please do not hesitate to contact your local neighbourhood policing team whose details are available on the ‘Your Area’ of the Force's website - Your area | Wiltshire Police.

Kind regards,

Assistant Chief Constable Deborah Smith, Wiltshire Police

Safety partners work together to protect Swindon’s nightlife this festive season

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:56:17 Z

On Saturday night Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson joined Wiltshire Police, Swindon Borough Council, venue staff, and volunteers who came together to show how we’re keeping nights out safe and enjoyable this festive season.

From taxi marshals and street wardens to initiatives like Ask for Angela and Project Vigilant, our teams are here to support you, prevent antisocial behaviour, and help you get home safely.

This partnership will continue throughout the festive season and into the new year.

Find out more here.

Amesbury Neighbourhood Policing Team - Out and about in the Mobile Police Station

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 15:04:54 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Your neighbourhood policing team will be out and about with the Mobile Police Station starting today (08/12/25).
Come along to speak with your local officers, raise any concerns, or just say hello at the following locations:
Monday 8 December
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm: Martlesham Road, near the play park, Boscombe Down estate
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: Home Bargains overflow car park, Solstice Park Services
Tuesday 9 December
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm: GOA car park, Everleigh
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: Tesco car park, Tidworth
Wednesday 10 December
• 10:00am - 11:00am: Murco fuel station, Tilshead
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm: Lower Chute Club
Thursday 11 December
• 11:30am - 12:30pm: Larkhill Medical Centre
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: Durrington Working Men’s Club
Saturday 13 December
• 3:30pm - 4:30pm: Middle Woodford Primary School
• 5:00pm - 6:00pm: Winterbourne Earls (Glebe Hall)

These sessions are a great opportunity to meet your local officers, share concerns and find out more about policing activity in your area.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Police Powers Scrutiny Roadshow - have your say!

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:46:25 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Next Monday (15 December), between 11:00am and 3:00pm, members of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, alongside the Wiltshire Police Scrutiny Team will be at the Salisbury Market Place as part of a Police Powers Scrutiny Roadshow.

They’ll be on hand to:
👮‍♂️ Explain how scrutiny works within Wiltshire Police
📈 Share plans for improving how we understand and monitor the use of police powers
🎥 Give you the chance to watch body-worn video from real incidents
🗣️ Hear your views on how powers are used.

This is a great opportunity to learn more, ask questions and help shape policing in Wiltshire.

Come along, say hello and get involved.

Open letter to Swindon residents from new Hub Commander Mike Vass

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:28:53 Z

Dear Swindon Resident,

I am delighted to introduce myself as the newly appointed Swindon Hub Commander for Wiltshire Police. It is a privilege to serve Swindon, and I look forward working with communities, listening to experiences with Wiltshire Police, and exploring how we can work together, deliver an outstanding service and keep our town safe.

I bring with me over 21 years of policing experience, having served with Avon and Somerset Police since 2004.

Throughout my career I worked across many areas of operational Policing in the city of Bristol.

As I have moved up through various roles and command functions I have worked closely with communities and partners to collaboratively do all we can to protect the public.

During this time, I have witnessed both the harsh realities of crime and the most uplifting moments of community resilience. Through it all, my passion for policing—and for the communities we serve—has never wavered.

For the past decade, I have led Avon and Somerset Police’s response to knife crime. The last two years have been particularly challenging, with a troubling rise in violence and tragic losses among young people. These experiences have reinforced my belief that policing alone cannot solve such complex issues. Real progress requires collaboration—working closely with partner agencies, charities, and, most importantly, with you, our communities. Together, we can share information, build trust, and create safer spaces for future generations.

I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Swindon Police and to continue driving forward initiatives that deliver outstanding policing for all. I have already begun forging partnerships across the region to bring new approaches and resources to Wiltshire. In addition to my role as Hub Commander, I will also lead our strategic response to knife crime, business crime, and the pursuit of outstanding offenders.

Thank you for welcoming me into this role. I look forward to working alongside you to make Swindon a safer and stronger community.

Superintendent Mike Vass, Swindon Hub Commander

Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 5 December 2025

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:17:04 Z

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

Yesterday, the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry concluded and the Inquiry Chair, Lord Hughes, published his report.

The collective condolences of everyone at Wiltshire Police remain with Dawn’s family and friends. We are all so sorry for their loss.

Since Dawn’s death on July 8 2018, they have had to wait for answers as to how this tragedy unfolded.

I cannot begin to imagine the pain of losing someone that you love and not having a complete picture of how this happened.

Our communities can read the report here and my full public statement in response to the Inquiry here.

This is a significant moment for both Wiltshire Police and our communities - for those directly involved in the initial emergency response, the ensuing investigations and for those living and working in Salisbury and Amesbury back in 2018.

However, it is important to remember that at the heart of this public inquiry are Dawn’s family and loved ones, whose lives have been irreversibly changed.

It is also important for me to acknowledge that, in part, this pain was compounded by mistakes made by Wiltshire Police.

Dawn was wrongly described by Wiltshire Police as a known drug user – this was not correct and should never have happened. For this, I am truly sorry.

Concerns were also raised during the Inquiry with regards to how Wiltshire Police responded to the second Novichok incident. This included our officers’ interactions with other frontline responders and whether due regard was shown to other professional assessments.

From the outset of the Inquiry, we made it clear that we were fully committed to learning any further lessons arising throughout this process. This is in addition to the learning already captured in a national review run by the College of Policing in 2020.

During each day of the open sessions for the Inquiry in late 2024, our team captured every opportunity to inform future learning or development to improve our policing service.

We identified 21 areas for improvement (themed below) and these are being tracked and delivered through our Force Organisational Learning Board.

These improvements include:

Ensuring critical advice & guidance – such as Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) advice - is shared promptly and effectively with our frontline. We have developed an internal intelligence portal where this information is shared directly with our frontline colleagues. This is in addition to ongoing training for all operational commanders

Enhanced multi-agency exercise training – we have an ongoing programme of training exercises and have seen an increase in the number of formal debrief sessions between agencies

Recording of emergency services huddles on Body Worn Video (BWV) – when emergency services make urgent decisions at scenes of incidents, these are now recorded on BWV to ensure total transparency and consistency. This has been embedded as part of our wider BWV training. The views of other partner agencies must always be considered and respected

Ensuring only appropriate, objective and factual information is captured on police files and systems - this includes language used when capturing witness statements, handover processes, meeting notes and minutes. Formal advisory warnings regarding this can now be found on our systems.

In addition to these self-identified improvements, we fully accept all the recommendations made in today’s Inquiry report and I am committed to ensuring these will be implemented.

There will also be a national process to absorb learning, and we will ensure the lessons we identified will be included within this.

Throughout the Inquiry, we listened to the testimonies of our partner agencies to identify ways of continuing to strengthen our local relationships and partnerships.

Evidence presented to the Inquiry illustrated the criticality of ensuring these relationships are constantly developed for us all to help best protect the public. As outlined in the improvements we have implemented, we prioritised advancing these inter-emergency services relationships for the benefit of our communities, primarily through our Local Resilience Forum.

It is important for me to recognise the significant impacts the Novichok poisonings had on Sergei and Yulia Skripal, former Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, Dawn’s partner Charlie Rowley and all of their loved ones.

Their lives have been changed as a result of the poisonings and the Inquiry findings will have an impact upon them. My thoughts remain with them at this time.

These events impacted many of our officers, staff and volunteers – both within Wiltshire Police and the hundreds of colleagues who supported us on mutual aid during the incidents or responded from partner agencies. May I express my thanks to you all.

Beyond the public service response, these events have had a significant impact on our communities in Salisbury and Amesbury.

Whilst they will not be defined by the malicious actions of those seeking to cause harm in Salisbury, they have had to acknowledge that this now forms part of their modern-day history.

From the initial incident in Salisbury, the world watched on as local communities supported one another and the emergency services deployed in their neighbourhoods for months at a time.

They have defined the true meaning of community spirit.

Through our dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs), we will continue to support them and offer them the very best possible service.

Last night, Chief Inspector Ben Huggins and Salisbury Inspector Tina Osborn attended the Salisbury Area Board meeting to offer further support to our communities. I would encourage anyone who has concerns or questions to reach out to your local NPT – they are on hand to provide support and advice. You can find out who your local NPT is by visiting our website.

Finally, the Inquiry has provided a transparent scrutiny process of our actions to our communities.

Transparency is essential for police legitimacy.

Kindest regards to you,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

Amesbury Neighbourhood Policing Team – Mobile Police Station Schedule

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:37:05 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Your neighbourhood policing team will be out and about with the Mobile Police Station throughout next week, starting Monday 8 December.

Come along to speak with your local officers, raise any concerns or just say hello.

📅 Monday 8 December – PC Smith and PCSO Douse
• 2:00pm– 3:00pm: Martlesham Road, near the play park, Boscombe Down estate
• 4:00pm – 5:00pm: Home Bargains overflow car park, Solstice Park Services

📅 Tuesday 9 December – PC Kinge and PCSO Douse
• 2:00pm: GOA car park, Everleigh
• 4:00pm: Tesco car park, Tidworth

📅 Wednesday 10 December – PC Lord and PCSO Kaur
• 10:00am: Murco fuel station, Tilshead

📅 Thursday 11 December – PCSO Morphy and PCSO Kaur
• 11:00am: Larkhill Medical Centre
• 2:00pm: Durrington Working Men’s Club

📅 Friday 12 December – PCSO Morphy and PCSO Kaur
• 11:00am: Lower Chute Club

📅 Saturday 13 December – PCSO House
• 3:00pm: Winterbourne Earls (Glebe Hall)
• 4:00pm: Middle Woodford Primary School

📍 These sessions are a great opportunity to meet your local officers, share concerns and find out more about policing activity in your area.

We look forward to seeing you there.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

A free early Christmas present for you that could quite literally save your business or organisation

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:11:22 Z

This message is for any business, charity, public authority, or organisation in the South-West, large or small. If your team uses IT, has an email address, operates a website, or benefits from a social media presence, then please read on.

If you are not involved in any such organisation, then please feel free to share this message with any appropriate contacts that you may have.

The gift:

As we approach the festive season, we know everyone is busy wrapping up the year. However, UK policing has a "gift" for your organisation that is free, takes minutes to open, and offers peace of mind well into the New Year. Introducing: The South-West Cyber Resilience Centre (SWCRC). Whether you run a shop, a café, a hotel, or an Airbnb. Maybe you are a sole trader, a charitable trust, a not-for-profit organisation, or a PLC. The South-West Cyber Resilience Centre is here to help you with your organisational cyber security.

Most of us know the basics:

· Passwords: Make sure they aren't easy to guess. Use 3 random words or 12+ characters

· 2SV: Turn on Two-Step Verification (2SV) also known as Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) wherever you can

· Updates: Keep your IT systems and software updated

· Legacy Tech: Don't run operating systems that are no longer supported

· Backups: Regularly back up your important information

Most importantly, make sure your colleagues know what to look out for. A pause and a discussion with teammates before clicking a link or downloading a file, can quite literally save your IT network — and maybe even your organisation.

A free helping hand

However, after the basics, when you delve a little deeper, cyber security can feel complicated, expensive, and unmanageable. If you wish to continually improve your cyber resilience, it can be hard figuring out your next steps. Professional cyber security support can be costly and for many SME’s, sole traders, local charities, and public authorities, obtaining such specialist assistance can often be well beyond their financial means. This is where the South-West Cyber Resilience Centre can help. The South-West Cyber Resilience Centre is one of nine regional cyber resilience centres in England and Wales, supported by the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group Limited, a collaboration between policing, academia, and the private sector. Funding for Cyber Resilience Centres is provided by the Police and the Home Office. This means that virtually everything on offer to you is free and unbiased. It can provide your team with specific free cyber security support, tailored to your particular needs.

Signing up with the South-West Cyber Resilience Centre, provides you with the basic cyber information that you were never taught at school. You gain access to a free bite-sized cyber security programme. Implementing each step takes a few minutes each week. The South-West Cyber Resilience Centre can support you if you get stuck, and they’ll provide a monthly update on all the latest threats, so that you know what to update, avoid, and delete. They offer you free webinars, to demystify things you’d like to know more about – like how to make your website safer, or how criminals target you online. They can also offer cyber services direct to your business, if you need them, from ethical hacking to staff training.

For more information about the South-West Cyber Resilience Centre please go here - Home | Cyber Resilience Centre for the South West

Claim your free membership now

Join this growing community today. It costs nothing and takes only a few minutes of your time.

👉Sign up here NOW: Join Us | Cyber Resilience Centre for the South West

You can do this. Join today and take your team's first step towards a more cyber resilient set-up.

Statement from Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Catherine Roper following the publication of the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry report

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:30:15 Z

I would like to reaffirm that the collective condolences of everyone at Wiltshire Police remain with Dawn’s family and friends.

Since Dawn’s death on July 8 2018, they have had to wait for answers as to how this tragedy unfolded.

I cannot begin to imagine the pain of losing a daughter and not having a complete picture of how this happened.

It is also important for me to acknowledge that, in part, this pain was compounded by mistakes made by Wiltshire Police.

Dawn was wrongly described by Wiltshire Police as a known drug user – this was not correct and should never have happened. For this, I am truly sorry.

From the outset of the Inquiry, we made it clear that Wiltshire Police was fully committed to learning any further lessons arising throughout this process. This is in addition to the learning already captured in a national review run by the College of Policing in 2020.

During each day of the hearings, our teams captured every opportunity to inform future learning or development to improve our policing service.

We identified 21 areas for improvement (grouped below) and these were tracked through our Force Organisational Learning Board chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith.

These improvements included:

Ensuring critical advice & guidance – such as Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) advice - is shared promptly and effectively with our frontline. We’ve developed an internal intelligence portal where this information is shared directly with our frontline colleagues. This is in addition to ongoing training for all operational commanders
Enhanced multi-agency exercise training – we have an ongoing programme of training exercises and have seen an increase in the number of formal debrief sessions between agencies
Recording of emergency services huddles on Body Worn Video (BWV) – when emergency services make urgent decisions at scenes of incidents, these are now recorded on BWV to ensure total transparency and consistency. This has been embedded as part of our wider BWV training. The views of other partner agencies must always be considered and respected.
Ensuring only appropriate, objective and factual information is captured on police files and systems - this includes language used when capturing witness statements, handover processes, meeting notes and minutes. Formal advisory warnings regarding this can now be found on our systems.

In addition to these self-identified improvements, we fully accept all the recommendations made by the Inquiry Chair in today’s Inquiry report and I am committed to ensuring these will be implemented. The organisational learning we have already progressed will absorb these and we will ensure these are continuously reviewed.

The report clearly outlines national learning for policing and there will be a national process to absorb this. We will ensure the lessons we previously identified and those in today’s report will be included within this process.

Throughout the Inquiry, we listened to the testimonies of our partner agencies to identify ways of continuing to strengthen our local relationships and partnerships.

Evidence presented to the Inquiry illustrated the criticality of ensuring these relationships are constantly developed for us all to help best protect the public. As outlined in the improvements we’ve implemented, we’ve prioritised advancing these inter-emergency services relationships for the benefit of our communities, primarily through our Local Resilience Forum.

Their lives have been irreversibly changed as a result of the poisonings and the Inquiry findings will have an impact upon them so my thoughts remain with them at this time.

These events also impacted many of our officers, staff and volunteers – both within Wiltshire Police and the hundreds of colleagues who supported us on mutual aid during the incidents.

I would once again like to thank every single person who stepped forward to support us, the ongoing Counter Terrorism Policing investigation and our affected communities.

Beyond the public service response, these events have had a significant impact on our communities in Salisbury and Amesbury.

Whilst they will not be defined by the malicious actions of those seeking to cause harm in Salisbury, they have had to acknowledge that this now forms part of their modern-day history.

From the initial incident in Salisbury, the world watched on as local communities supported one another and the emergency services deployed in their neighbourhoods for months at a time.

They have defined the true meaning of community spirit.

Through our dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Teams, we will continue to support them and offer them the very best possible service.

Finally, the Inquiry has provided a transparent scrutiny process of our actions to our communities. I would like to encourage anyone who would like to contribute ideas or shape how we can continue to develop our service, to consider joining one of our Independent Advisory Groups. You can find more information on these here.

Police Powers Scrutiny Roadshow - have your say!

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:52:29 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Next Wednesday (10 December), between 11:00am and 3:00pm, members of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, alongside the Wiltshire Police Scrutiny Team will be at the Orbital Shopping Centre as part of a Police Powers Scrutiny Roadshow.

This is a great opportunity to learn more, ask questions and help shape policing in Wiltshire.

Come along, say hello and get involved.

Operation Scorpion – Working together to tackle drug harm across Wiltshire

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 17:06:17 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},
Wiltshire Police continues to work closely with regional partners as part of Operation Scorpion – a joint initiative involving police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners across the South West targeting illegal drugs and child criminal exploitation (CCE).

Throughout the latest activity phase, police officers and staff have been highly visible across Wiltshire - engaging with residents, gathering intelligence, executing warrants and targeting those believed to be involved in drug-related activity.

A coordinated awareness campaign also ran online, including targeted TikTok and Snapchat advertisements aimed at reaching young people and raising awareness of the dangers of drugs and exploitation.

Activity across Wiltshire

Swindon

Officers carried out significant proactive work including:

Multiple warrants and arrests for drug supply

Drug seizures, cash recovery and closure orders on properties linked to Class A dealing

Intelligence-led vehicle stops resulting in arrests

Hotspot patrols in areas including Marlowe Ave, Fairfax Close, Park North, Eldene, Moredon, Pinehurst, Gorse Hill, Caulfield Road, Welcombe Ave, Oakham Close and Corfe Road

Visits to local hotels to raise awareness around exploitation and encourage reporting.

This activity has disrupted drug lines and enhanced safeguarding for vulnerable individuals.

Royal Wootton Bassett, Cricklade and surrounding rural areas

Work focused on prevention, safeguarding, and engagement:

Hotel Watch visits to raise awareness

Patrols of parks linked to drug issues

School sessions at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy educating young people on exploitation risks

Vehicle stops leading to arrests and intelligence development.

Chippenham, Calne and Corsham

Officers undertook:

High-visibility patrols in youth violence and drug dealing hotspot areas

Checks at addresses at risk of cuckooing

Targeted patrols around Kingsbury Green Academy in Calne

An arrest and closure order linked to cuckooing in Chippenham

Vehicle stops and drug-related arrests

Engagement with young people through school-based prevention work.

Melksham and Trowbridge

Activity included:

Warrants resulting in drug seizures and weapons recovery

Vehicle stops leading to arrests

High-visibility patrols in known hotspots.

Trowbridge officers also carried out:

Safety sweeps and reassurance patrols

Weapon sweeps linked to youth violence

Hotspot patrols targeting Class A dealing

Joint work to safeguard vulnerable individuals.

This led to multiple drugs, cash and weapons recoveries, improved safety and ongoing investigations.

Devizes

Officers focused on:

Visits and welfare checks on vulnerable adults at risk of cuckooing

Joint visits with substance misuse partners

Warrants leading to drug seizures and intelligence development

Patrols in areas linked to organised crime.

This work has strengthened safeguarding and supported people into treatment and support services.

Westbury, Warminster and Bradford-on-Avon

Actions included:

Joint patrols with drug and alcohol outreach staff

Youth violence hotspot patrols

Visibility and reassurance work across key locations

This resulted in safeguarding opportunities, intelligence gathering, and increased community reassurance.

Salisbury and Amesbury

Officers carried out:

Hotspot patrols targeting organised criminal groups

Vehicle stops and arrests for Class A supply

Seizures of drugs, weapons, cash and vehicles.

Recent outcomes included:

Cocaine and cash seizures

A firearm recovered

County Lines networks disrupted

Two significant suspects charged.

Marlborough and Pewsey

Local activity included:

High-visibility hotspot patrols

Targeted work against OCG-linked drug dealing

Intelligence gathering to support wider enforcement

This has disrupted rural criminality and supported ongoing safeguarding and future policing action.

While enforcement, visible policing and education continues, community intelligence remains one of the most powerful tools we have.

You can support Operation Scorpion by:

Reporting suspicious behaviour or drug activity

Sharing details about vehicles, locations or people of concern

Looking out for young or vulnerable individuals who may be exploited

Contacting police if something doesn’t feel right

Watch a round up of the week, coordinated by Gloucestershire Police: Op Scorpion Montage

You don’t need to be certain. If you’re worried, tell us.

📞 999 – if a crime is happening or someone is in danger
💻Online reporting – via the Wiltshire Police website
🔍Crimestoppers – anonymously on 0800 555 111

Your information helps us build a picture, safeguard people at risk, and take action against those who harm our communities.
Our message is simple: Wiltshire and the South West is no place for drugs.

Join us LIVE for a Q&A with your Neighbourhood Policing Team!

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:19:26 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

On Tuesday 9 December at 6.00pm, we’ll be going live on the Devizes Police Facebook page for an interactive Q&A session with Inspector Simon Garrett and the team.

This is your opportunity to:
✔️ Ask questions directly to local officers
✔️ Hear about policing priorities
✔️ Share concerns or issues affecting your community
✔️ Learn more about ongoing work to keep your area safe.

💬 Want to get involved? Simply reply to this message with your questions or on Facebook during the live stream and we’ll answer as many as we can.

Whether you’re interested in crime trends, neighbourhood patrols, road safety or community engagement, we want to hear from you.

👉 Join the conversation and have your say:
📅 Tuesday 9 December
⏰ 6.00pm
📍 Devizes Police Facebook page

We look forward to chatting with you!

Join us LIVE for a Facebook Q&A with your Neighbourhood Policing Team

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:07:54 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

On Wednesday 10 December at 6pm, we’ll be hosting a Facebook Live session on the Chippenham Police Facebook page.

This is your chance to:
✔️ Ask questions directly to your local officers
✔️ Hear about current policing priorities
✔️ Share concerns affecting your area
✔️ Find out more about what the team are working on.

💬 Got a question? Submit it in advance by replying to this message or on the Chippenham Police Facebook page during the live stream and we’ll do our best to answer as many as possible.

Whether you’re concerned about crime, community safety or local policing activity - we want to hear from you.

Save the date, tune in and join the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

📅 Wednesday 10 December 2025
⏰ 6.00pm
📍 LIVE on the Chippenham Police Facebook page.

Spiking statistics shock licensees during latest WAVE training event in Salisbury

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:36:41 Z

Licensees and bar staff in Salisbury say they were shocked by the statistics they heard about spiking at the latest Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) and Licensing SAVI training event to be held in the city.

The free training, which is funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, show bar and pub staff how to recognise signs of customer vulnerability, helping to prevent violent crime, sexual offences, and harm linked to drugs or alcohol.

Ed Halford is the general manager of the Hetty Bells in Salisbury:

"The stats about sexual assaults on women, spiking and the lack of reporting is horrific.

"Something has got to change in the night time economy to make sure we can get that changed and I feel this training is really helping"

During the training the licensees were told what to do if there was a spiking incident at that their venue and how to preserve evidence for the police.

Sarah McCall is supervisor at the Market Tavern in Salisbury:

"Finding out what to do if someone is spiked and what to do to be more on the ball to help the police was useful.

"The stats are quite shocking. The spiking cases were a lot higher than I thought and the reporting was a lot lower."

Eren Bessem is from the Safer Business Network, which runs the WAVE Training:

"Delivering WAVE training in Wiltshire has been a brilliant opportunity to strengthen local safeguarding and support frontline teams.

"The commitment from partners across the county has been outstanding, and it’s clear there’s a real drive to create safer spaces for everyone.”

For more news from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, visit: News

Police Alert: Increase in Keyless Car Theft- Please Stay Vigilant

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 14:32:10 Z

Dear Residents,

We are writing to make you aware of a recent increase in keyless car thefts in rural communities in and around our area. Offenders are targeting vehicles parked on driveways and near homes, often during the late evening and early hours of the morning.

Keyless entry vehicles are particularly at risk, as criminals may use signal-boosting devices to unlock and start cars without needing the physical key. Preventative measures on how to better secure your vehicles are contained in the leaflet attached.

Our officers will be conducting increased patrols in affected areas, and we encourage all residents to remain vigilant and share this information with neighbours, especially those who may not use email or social media.

If you have any information or footage that may assist us, please contact us via 101, or in an emergency dial 999.

Thank you for your continued support in helping keep our community safe.

Kind regards,

Lukasz Kolasinski 70901 Police Community Support Officer
Warminster Rural Beat Warminster Area Neighbourhood Policing Team (Warminster, Westbury, Tisbury, Mere) Police Station, The Avenue, Warminster, BA12 9AA

Email:	lukasz.kolasinski@witlshire.police.uk
Mobile:	07471029004

📢 Police Appeal to Rural Communities: Recent Thefts of 4x4 Vehicles

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 07:55:20 Z

Dear Residents,

Local officers are issuing an urgent appeal to rural communities following a recent increase in the theft of motor vehicles—particularly 4x4s—which we believe are being targeted for use in hare coursing and other rural crime.

We are asking residents, farmers, and landowners to remain vigilant and to take extra precautions to protect their vehicles. Offenders are actively seeking high-powered 4x4 models that can be used off-road, often moving quickly between districts and across county borders.

What You Can Do

Secure vehicles in locked buildings wherever possible.

Use steering locks, wheel clamps, immobilisers, and other visible deterrents.

Consider installing tracking devices, CCTV, motion-activated lighting, or alarm systems.

Keep keys out of sight and away from external doors.

Report any suspicious activity—such as unknown vehicles scouting the area—to police immediately.

Information We Need

If you have witnessed suspicious behaviour, noticed unusual vehicle movements, or have any information about recent thefts or hare coursing activity, please contact us. Even small details can help us build intelligence and identify offenders.

📞 Report non-emergencies: 101

🚨 In an emergency or if a crime is in progress: 999

📧 You can also report anonymously via Crimestoppers.

South West PCC’s and police forces unite to tackle child criminal exploitation across the region

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 16:52:52 Z

Criminal gangs are targeting children and teenagers across the South West, using fear and violence to force them into transporting drugs and money across county lines. This is called child criminal exploitation, and it can have devastating consequences for young people and their families.

For the first time, police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners from Wiltshire, Avon & Somerset, Devon & Cornwall, Dorset and Gloucestershire have come together to launch a regional campaign on TikTok and Snapchat. These platforms are where young people spend much of their time, so we’re using short, impactful videos to help them recognise the signs of exploitation and know where to get help.

What to look out for:

Sudden changes in behaviour or appearance

Having unexplained money, gifts or new possessions

Going missing or travelling to unfamiliar places

Being secretive about who they’re talking to

If you’re worried about a child or young person, help is available. Visit Spots the Signs. Stop the Crime for advice and support.

Community visits across the area with the mobile police station.

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:01:26 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Want to speak with your local Neighbourhood Policing Team? From Monday 1st to Sunday 7th December, our officers will be out holding community drop-ins and patrols with the mobile police station.

Here’s where you can find us:

📅 Monday 1 December

📍 Devizes – Morrisons Car Park | 9:30–11:00am
📍 Devizes – Lidl Car Park | 12:30–1:30pm
📍 Woodborough – Garden Centre | 3:00–4:30pm
📍 Marlborough High Street | 7:00–9:00pm

📅 Tuesday 2 December

📍 Avebury – Café Car Park | 10:00–11:00am
📍 Bromham – Village Hall | 1:00–2:00pm
📍 Ramsbury – Fire Station | 4:00–5:00pm
📍 Aldbourne – The Square | 7:00–9:00pm

📅 Wednesday 3 December

📍 Great Bedwyn – High Street | 10:00am–12:00pm
📍 Honeystreet – Mill Café Car Park | 1:00–2:30pm
📍 Upavon – Recreation Ground / Village | 4:00–5:30pm

📅 Thursday 4 December

📍 Potterne – Village Hall Car Park | 9:30–11:00am
📍 Rowde – Rowdey Cow Farm Shop | 1:00–2:30pm

📅 Friday 5 December

📍 Devizes – Market Place | 2:00–4:00pm

📅 Saturday 6 December

📍 Bouverie Hall Car Park (Christmas Fayre) | 9:30am–12:30pm

📅 Sunday 7 December

📍 Market Lavington – Opposite Day Lewis Chemist | 3:00–5:00pm

Pop along to say hello, raise concerns or get crime prevention advice - we look forward to seeing you!

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Join your neighbourhood policing team on Facebook Live!

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:29:12 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Next week, we’re hosting a Facebook Live Q&A with Inspector Lou Oakley from your Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) on the Warminster Police Facebook page.

Date: Wednesday 3 December 2025

Time: 12:00pm

This is your chance to:

Ask questions directly to your local policing lead

Hear updates on community priorities

Share any concerns you’d like the NPT to be aware of.

Got a question? Reply to this message and we’ll make sure it gets to the team ahead of the session.

No need to register, just join us live on the day on the Warminster Police Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WarminsterPolicingTeam) and get involved in the conversation.

We look forward to hearing from you!

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Campaign launches to ensure festive revellers have a safe night out in Swindon this winter

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:51:54 Z

Heading out in Swindon this festive season? You’ll be reassured to know that there’s plenty of plans in place to keep you safe as highlighted by the new ‘Getting You Home Safe’ which focuses on the collective responsibility to ensure a safe night out for those celebrating this December.

Launched by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Wiltshire and Swindon the campaign will promote the range of partnership initiatives designed to make the night time economy safer and more welcoming during the busy festive period.

Initiatives include uniform and plain clothed officer patrols, taxi marshals, trained venue staff offering initiatives like Ask for Angela, street wardens, taxi marshals and volunteers such as Night Angels and Street Pastors providing reassurance and assistance.

Residents and visitors should expect to see adverts at train stations, bus stops and on buses in Swindon and across the county in addition to digital advertising promoting the campaign.

This launch follows a recent county-wide survey which showed that only 25% of respondents (829) felt quite or very safe at night compared to 66.5% during the day and that more than half of people (56.3%) felt either quite or very unsafe at night.

It also revealed that 64% of respondents felt most unsafe at night due to drunken behaviour and large groups of people. Poor lighting was the biggest concern for 61%, while 54% said a lack of visible police presence was a key contributing factor.

To find out more read the news page on our website
Campaign launches to ensure festive revellers have a safe night out in Swindon this winter

Or visit our dedicated web page Getting You Home Safe

Getting You Home Safe: Making Swindon nights safer this festive season

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:32:49 Z

As the festive season kicks off, a new campaign is here to make sure everyone in Swindon can enjoy a night out and get home safely.

The Getting You Home Safe initiative, led by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire, brings together local partners to create a safer, more welcoming night-time experience in Swindon.

What’s happening in Swindon?

Visible support on the streets: Extra police officers and community wardens will be out and about.

Taxi marshals: Helping you find a safe ride home from busy spots.

Trained venue staff: Offering schemes like Ask for Angela if you need discreet help.

Volunteers on hand: Groups like Night Angels and Night Wardens will be around to provide reassurance and assistance.

This campaign is all about partnership between The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Wiltshire Police, Swindon Borough Council, local pubs and clubs, transport providers, and community groups who are all working together to make sure everyone feels safe when enjoying Swindon’s nightlife.

Find out more, visit our dedicated web page Getting You Home Safe.

For more new from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, visit www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk/about-us/news

Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 21 November 2025

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:38:20 Z

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

Following the Government’s announcement to remove Police and Crime Commissioners by 2028, I wanted to reassure you and our communities that Wiltshire Police remains wholly committed to delivering your Police and Crime Plan.

We will continue to work closely with your office to ensure delivery of its statutory functions – particularly those in place to enhance the services to victims of crime.

Your Police and Crime Plan is developed from community feedback and, in addition to our communities outlining the crimes impacting upon them the most, they have also been clear that, to build the trust and confidence they have in us, they want to see a more inclusive and representative Force.

You have captured this in your first priority, which states that our organisation should be ‘recruiting a diverse police workforce to reflect the community it serves’ and that ‘by building a culture of integrity and respect within the police, we aim to increase the trust that communities place in Wiltshire Police.’

In this letter, I wanted to share some incredible examples which highlight Wiltshire Police’s delivery of this priority, as well as some which have attracted national recognition.

On Monday, a member of our organisation was nationally recognised for his outstanding contribution to our Force.

Luke Newton joined Wiltshire Police ten years ago through the Down’s Syndrome Association’s employment programme, WorkFit. He works as an administrator in the Crime and Communications Centre, providing vital support to frontline operations Control Room colleagues.

His dedication earned him second place, in a category of over 100 nominees, for a prestigious award from the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) – presented at Wembley Stadium.

The BASE Awards celebrate people with disabilities who inspire others through their work and accomplishments. Luke’s achievement was an incredible milestone for him, his family and for our organisation, highlighting the importance of inclusive employment. You can read more about Luke’s story here.

Continuing the theme of national recognition for our Wiltshire Police colleagues, I was thrilled that our Wellness Delivery Manager Iain Pettitt won the highly commended award at the national Oscar Kilo Conference this week in the OK9 Wellbeing Dogs category.

This is a phenomenal achievement given the OK9 Wellbeing and Trauma Support Dog Network was only launched earlier this year in Wiltshire. You can read more about the network here.

Last Friday, both Wiltshire Police and your own Office Senior Team, proudly celebrated the graduation of our second We Rise programme cohort.

We Rise is an internal leadership development programme designed for colleagues from under-represented backgrounds.

The first programme, devised by Assistant Chief Constable Liz Coles, resulted in 65% of the delegates either being promoted or in the promotion process. However, success from the programme is measured not only by career progression, but by strengthened confidence and personal growth.

As part of the programme, graduates spent time supporting vital community projects and charities including FearFree, KFR Devizes and the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

This initiative has earned national recognition and was highlighted by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) as innovative practice.

Developing potential within our organisation often comes from our collaboration with other organisations and sharing best practice.

This was evidenced last week, when I was delighted to accompany colleagues to the South West Women in Policing Leadership Conference hosted by Gloucestershire Police.

The event, attended by more than 130 delegates, was focused on inspiring, empowering and elevating women in policing across our region.

It brought together an incredible group of speakers including Dany Cotton – the retired Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, the Bishop of Gloucestershire Rev Rachel Treweek and Julia Middleton, the founder of the global movement, Women Emerging.

November also marks National Men’s Month, which is designed to encourage men to make positive lifestyle changes and talk more about the challenges they face.

We have teamed up with the charity Man Down to host a series of webinars within our organisation and to signpost to where more support can be found.

In addition, we’ve also been sharing some of the incredible work our partner agencies have been doing – including the Men’s Sheds initiative that Wiltshire Council have supported. Men's Sheds are community spaces for men to connect, converse and create. We are fortunate to have several of these across our county and you can find out more here.

Next week, we will mark the annual 16 Days of Action campaign, and our focus will be on strengthening the protection and support we provide to victims of domestic abuse.

Recent specialist training delivered by psychotherapist Zoe Lodrick has further deepened our understanding, ensuring our teams are better equipped to recognise the impact sexualised trauma has on victims.

The training event was attended by more than 100 officers, staff and partner representatives working across the county.

Officers and staff from Neighbourhood Policing teams, Safeguarding teams, Learning & Development and Victim Services attended, alongside your commissioned services and specialist domestic abuse partners, including FearFree, Open to Change and the Nelson Trust. The focus was on supporting those who routinely work with victims of sexualised or domestic abuse trauma.

Learning from specialists like Zoe is essential to ensure victims receive the care and understanding they deserve.

Finally, I wanted to shine a light on the incredible cadre of volunteers who help shape our service and ensure we are both truly representing our communities and also keeping them safe.

This week, we launched Operation Sceptre – our month-long campaign aimed at tackling knife violence – which highlights the year-round proactivity by our cadets to combat knife crime and child exploitation through their test purchasing of knives and alcohol, and testing the safeguarding policies of hotels and B&Bs.

You can find out more about the work of our cadets here.

We know that children and young people are more likely to be impacted by knife crime.

We also know that children and young people can become victims of harm and abuse by those who wish to exploit them. I know you share my absolute commitment to ensuring we keep children and young people safe. I also know you share my view that our two organisations need the help of communities and partners to ensure this happens – we cannot achieve it alone.

This was brought to life for me last night, when I was honoured to attend the Swindon Youth Justice Service Art Exhibition, showcasing children’s perspectives on personal and community safety in line with Operation Sceptre.

The submissions explored what community means to young people and what more could be done to make them feel safer.

The event also reminded me just what a privilege policing is, and that trust must be earned, respected and never presumed. I would like to congratulate all those in the exhibition, including our Police Youth Justice Worker Ella Claridge who was praised by everyone for her energy and commitment – but also our partners, and most importantly the young people who were prepared to trust us with their thoughts and experiences.

Whilst crimes involving knives and blades in Wiltshire have fallen in the last year (from 808 incidents in 2023/24, to 738 incidents in 2024/25) we cannot be complacent, and we must continue to listen and learn from young people. I do believe that with their guidance, we will provide a better service to our communities and ensure we are keeping Wiltshire safe.

Kindest regards to you,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

Police Powers Scrutiny Roadshow - have your say.

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:01:15 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Tomorrow (Friday 21 November), between 11:00am and 3:00pm, members of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon and the Wiltshire Police Scrutiny Team will be joining the Neighbourhood Policing Team on Chippenham High Street as part of a Police Powers Scrutiny Roadshow.

They’ll be on hand to:

👮‍♂️ Explain how scrutiny works within Wiltshire Police
📈 Share plans for improving how we understand and monitor the use of police powers
🎥 Give you the chance to watch body-worn video from real incidents
🗣️ Hear your views on how powers are used.

This is a great opportunity to learn more, ask questions and help shape policing in Wiltshire.

Come along, say hello and get involved.

Wiltshire Police continue efforts to address business crime across the county during a week of increased activity

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:14:21 Z

Safer Business Action Week 2025

Local policing teams across Wiltshire carried out over 100 additional public engagements during Safer Business Action (SaBA) week, which took place from last Monday, 10 November to Sunday 16 November.

Safer Business Action Week is a national week of action in collaboration with the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC), tackling retail crime. Over the course of the week, officers and PCSOs from across Wiltshire visited businesses to understand any concerns they had and offer crime prevention advice where required. Any areas of concern raised will help form the local policing teams’ upcoming priorities.

Safer Business Action Week aims to strengthen the partnership working between retailers, security, local authorities, and policing to tackle business crime through prevention. Enhanced partnership working improves intelligence sharing to bring offenders to justice and improve safety for those working in retail.

The week of activity saw police working alongside partner agencies to ensure any concerns could be tackled proactively, by the correct authority. Local policing teams based in Devizes and Warminster carried out joint patrols of town centres alongside Wiltshire Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team. In Salisbury, officers joined Wiltshire Trading Standards on visits to retail premises in the city centre to offer crime prevention and safety advice.

Warminster Neighbourhood Inspector Lou Oakley is one of two Force leads for business crime.

Inspector Oakley said: “I am extremely passionate about working with our retailers to tackle shoplifting and protect shop workers. We recognise many retail workers face persistent aggressive, threatening behaviour from retail crime offenders, and this is not acceptable.

“We want to reassure those working in the retail sector, and members of the public, that we are committed to tackling business crime. Part of my ongoing work as Operational Lead is addressing the root cause of persistent offending, which has led to the introduction of initiatives such as the Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) panels.”

One of the ways police can proactively address persistent offending is by applying for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for prolific offenders. A CBO outlines certain restrictions to prevent re-offending. This can include the individual being excluded from a specific shop, chain of shops, or areas of town/city centres.

CBO panels have been set up in Wiltshire by Force Leads on Business Crime, Inspector Louise Oakley and Inspector David Tippetts, where police meet with partner agencies to discuss an offender's suitability for a CBO. Partner agencies in attendance include probation, Connect (drug and alcohol dependency support), mental health advisors, and housing associations.

The CBO panels provide a holistic approach, ensuring that each offender receives the correct support from the appropriate authorities before an application for a CBO is made to the courts.

Inspector Lou Oakley continues: “In the fight against business crime, collaboration is key. By establishing a Criminal Behaviour Order panel, we can harness diverse insights and expertise, transforming challenges into strategic initiatives that safeguard our economy and community. This highlights the value of teamwork and a multifaceted approach in tackling business-related criminal activities.

“We need the public to report incidents of theft or threatening behaviour to us by calling 999 if a crime is in progress, or via our website in a non-emergency.”

Currently, there are 27 active CBOs in place across Wiltshire. To find out more about CBO enforcement in Wiltshire, watch our YouTube video here.

Find out more about the specific SaBA activities that took place during the week:

Amesbury, Tidworth and Ludgershall

The neighbourhood policing team (NPT) visited 35 businesses over the week. The team heard about issues including: repeat offending, counterfeit currency, and anti-social behaviour. Officers and PCSOs visited fuel stations in the area to gather intelligence around vehicle-related crime taking place on the forecourts.

Chippenham, Calne and Corsham

Officers and PCSOs in the Chippenham, Calne and Corsham areas carried out high visibility patrols in local shops. The team provided advice to local retailers and members of the public about counterfeit currency following recent incidents involving fraudulent Scottish and Northern Irish currency.

Warminster, Westbury, Mere and Tisbury

The NPT carried out a range of reassurance patrols throughout the week, from high footfall areas in Warminster and Westbury, to village stores and farm shops in Semley and Mere.

Superintendent James Brain and Inspector Lou Oakley visited Warminster CCTV Centre, which covers areas including Warminster and Westbury town centres and West Wilts Trading Estate in Westbury.

Members of the team attended a local Pubwatch meeting to address local concerns about anti-social behaviour and crime relating to licensed premises. PCSO Kolasinski visited rural licensed premises to understand any concerns and carry out safety checks.

Swindon

NPT officers and PCSOs in Swindon have patrolled high footfall areas, looking out for prolific offenders. The team visited lots of shops to understand what issues they are currently facing, and how the police can support them.

Over the course of the week, teams across Swindon visited locations including Greenbridge Retail Park, Mannington Retail Park, and McArthur Glen Outlet Centre.

Salisbury

The Business Crime Reduction Partnership was launched in Salisbury last week. This is a collaborative initiative bringing together police, local businesses and partner agencies to share intelligence, prevent crime and create a safer environment for staff, customers and the wider community. More information about this initiative can be found on the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner's website.

Local police officers and PCSOs carried out additional patrols of the city centre to proactively deter offending.

Royal Wootton Bassett, Purton and Cricklade

On Monday, the team held a community consultation in Royal Wootton Bassett, followed by engagement at the town’s market on Wednesday.

Later in the week, they were joined by colleagues from Trading Standards, who seized several counterfeit and unsafe items from local shops.

Devizes and Marlborough

Devizes area NPT have been offering reassurance, discussing crime prevention advice and listening to the issues that matter most to local businesses. The team remain committed to supporting retailers to ensure that Devizes remains a safe place to work, shop and visit.

The team also visited business in rural areas across the patch.

Trowbridge, Melksham and Bradford on Avon

Officers and PCSOs from Trowbridge NPT visited several key locations across the patch, using the Mobile Police Station. The team carried out high visibility patrols in the following locations:

Trowbridge

Fore Street

Wicker Hill

Paxcroft Mead Community Centre

Southwick Country Park

Melksham

Seend High Street

Melksham High Street

Tesco Express, Bowerhill

Bradford on Avon

Train station car park

You can find out more about the policing activity that has taken place in your area via our website.

Where should our Mobile Police Station visit next? We want to hear from you!

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:10:44 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Our Mobile Police Station is an important way for us to meet you in your community, listen to your concerns and offer advice or support.

We’re planning future visits and would like your help to decide where we should go next.

Please complete our short survey before 11.45pm on Sunday 7 December to share your views:

https://forms.office.com/e/cjSqqSJTk8

Your reply helps us make sure we’re visible and accessible where it matters most.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Where should our Mobile Police Station visit next? We want to hear from you!

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:04:17 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Our Mobile Police Station is an important way for us to meet you in your community, listen to your concerns and offer advice or support.

We’re planning future visits and would like your help to decide where we should go next.

Please complete our short survey before 11.45pm on Sunday 7 December to share your views:

https://forms.office.com/e/KGNVNVuc14

Your reply helps us make sure we’re visible and accessible where it matters most.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Where should our Mobile Police Station visit next? We want to hear from you!

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 13:58:24 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Our Mobile Police Station is an important way for us to meet you in your community, listen to your concerns and offer advice or support.

We’re planning future visits and would like your help to decide where we should go next.

Please complete our short survey before 11.45pm on Sunday 7 December to share your views:

https://forms.office.com/e/2V3u43r5wm

Your reply helps us make sure we’re visible and accessible where it matters most.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Wiltshire's first Business Crime Reduction Partnership launches in Salisbury

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:55:11 Z

Businesses and residents in Salisbury will be the first in Wiltshire to see the benefits of a new partnership approach to tackle anti-social behaviour and retail crime in the city.

The Salisbury Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) was launched at the Guildhall today (Monday 10 November) and with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner bringing together Wiltshire Police, Salisbury BID, Salisbury City Council and Wiltshire Council to prevent and deter criminal activities and create a safer environment for shoppers, workers, and visitors to the city.

The collaboration between the partner agencies marks a significant step forward in proactively addressing issues related to crime and anti-social behaviour.

Philip Wilkinson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, is confident the BCRP will have a positive effect on the city:

“Retail crime is a key focus of my Police and Crime Plan, and we have to recognise that it’s not just a business issue, it’s a community issue. It affects livelihoods, safety, and the vibrancy of our city and town centres. That’s why my office is committed to supporting the Salisbury BCRP, which bring together police, businesses, and local authorities to create safer spaces for everyone.

“As budgets become tighter, we must work efficiently and effectively to make the most of our resources, so our residents and businesses see and feel the benefits of our partnership working.”

Businesses who sign up to the Salisbury BCRP will join existing members of Salisbury BID in accessing technology known as DISC, which enables them to share information between BCRP members and makes it easier to report crime and anti-social behaviour to Wiltshire Police.

Dan Collins is the Business manager at Salisbury BID:

"The Salisbury Business Crime Reduction Partnership represents a major step forward for our city. It builds on years of investment and leadership from Salisbury’s business community, whose commitment has made this partnership possible.

"By combining real-time intelligence sharing, direct reporting through our online intelligence system and close collaboration with Wiltshire Police and our local authorities, we’re creating a safer, more resilient city centre.

"Salisbury is now setting the benchmark for the county, showing how businesses and partners can work together to reduce crime and protect our communities."

Once the BCRP is established in Salisbury, the ambition is to establish a BCRP in every neighbourhood policing area in Wiltshire and Swindon in order to bring businesses closer to their local policing teams and local authorities.

Chief Inspector Ben Huggins is from Wiltshire Police:

"The Salisbury Neighbourhood Policing Team remains firmly committed to supporting the Business Crime Reduction Partnership and addressing the challenges posed by business crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) within the local community. We recognise the significant impact these issues have not only on individual businesses but also on staff wellbeing, public confidence, and the wider community’s sense of safety.

"As we progress with our involvement with the Salisbury Business Crime Reduction Partnership, our focus is on intelligence led policing and consistent engagement with the retail sector.

"Through working together we want to show retailers increased confidence in reporting retail crime."

One of the key focuses of the BCRP will be to reduce anti-social behaviour and low level crime through partnership work with local authorities and by addressing the root causes of ASB.

Cllr Mel Jacob, Wiltshire Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Partnerships, Engagement, Libraries, Leisure, Culture, Corporate Services, Governance and Operational Services, said:

“Wiltshire is rightly proud of its reputation as one of the safest counties in the UK. But safety is not static—it must be protected, invested in and continually improved. That’s why the development of the Salisbury Business Crime Reduction Partnership is not just timely, but essential.

“We have worked hand-in-hand with Wiltshire Police and other key partners to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, but we also recognise that we must evolve.

“This year, the council has significantly increased its support for the Community Safety Partnership, enabling more coordinated, multi-agency problem solving across the board

“I want to thank everyone involved in this partnership and assure people that we remain fully committed to supporting this vital work.”

Keith Jackson is the CCTV manager at Salisbury City Council:

“This partnership builds on the support we currently provide to our community through our CCTV network and other initiatives, adding provision that is aimed at reducing retail crime to aid local business, and in turn the wider community.”

The launch of the BCRP was also used to mark the launch of the national Safer Business Action Week, a coordinated week of action where Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRPs), Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and retailers join with the police and local authorities to target prolific offenders, provide crime prevention advice, and carry out high-visibility joint patrols. In Salisbury, a week of a week of action involving patrols, preventative operations and a number of events are planned.

Superintendent Lisa Maslen is the National Business Crime Centre lead for Safer Business Action Week:

“BCRPs are an excellent initiative which reduce crime and ASB across our towns and cities.

“Launching the Salisbury Business Crime Reduction Partnership at the start of Safer Business Action Week, allows us to show our joint commitment to proactively tackling crime and strengthening the collaboration between the police, local authorities, and businesses.

“It was great to see a packed room in Salisbury and hear about the plans to expand the BCRP model across Wiltshire.”

Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 7 November 2025

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 19:08:14 Z

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson,

Improving the service we provide to women and girls affected by any forms of violence is a key priority for Wiltshire Police, working with our partners.

In the latest quarterly report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) (Crime in England and Wales, year ending June 2025) we have seen a 12.3% increase in reported sexual offences, from 1,958 to 2,199 incidents. We cautiously welcome this rise in reporting, which appears to reflect our work to raise awareness, increasing trust and confidence for victims to come forward, improve recording and ensure that offences are robustly investigated.

October was our focussed month of action to improve our front line response to any report or concern of domestic abuse; to ensure our investigations are victim centred, and proactively locate and arrest any named suspects for domestic abuse to ensure we are managing risk and keeping people safe.

Throughout the month we delivered a training programme that combined bite-size learning modules and mandatory sessions with a strong emphasis on collaboration with victim advocates.

An essential part of our improved service to tackle domestic abuse has been the integration of Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) and Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs). Their expertise has been instrumental in helping to shape a more effective and compassionate approach to investigations.

These highly skilled professionals have worked alongside our teams from the outset of enquiries, offering guidance, safeguarding support and continuity of care through the custody process and beyond. Feedback from officers has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are now exploring how this model can be embedded more permanently across our stations. You can read more about the work here.

We also recognise the need to work with perpetrators. As part of this commitment, we have strengthened links with partners delivering perpetrator programmes such as Open 2 Change, providing tailored support to those who wish to engage and change their behaviour.

Looking more broadly at the delivery on our priority of ‘Safer Public Spaces’, we continue to tackle harmful and criminal predatory behaviours in the nighttime economy. Project Vigilant has been established within Wiltshire Police for over four years. Our Force leads, Detective Inspector Troy Smith and Detective Sergeant Jen Jeffcoat-Marsh, recently delivered specialist training to other police forces, including colleagues from South Wales Police, who joined our most recent deployment in Swindon to put their learning into practice.

Across the county, our three Police Alcohol Licensing Officers (PALOs) continue to carry out excellent preventative work alongside your office and local authority partners. They deliver Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) training to licensed premises, support the Ask for Angela scheme, lead Pubwatch groups, and conduct routine licensing visits with neighbourhood policing teams (NPT) and local authority licensing teams. This collaborative approach is helping to ensure that our licensed premises remain safe and well managed.

A specific example of the success of this approach is Operation Armania, which was implemented in Salisbury to tackle anti-social behaviour and serious violence in the night-time economy. You can watch some of the operational activity here.

Our commitment to improving town centres can also be seen in Chippenham where neighbourhood policing teams have been working in partnership with businesses and local authorities by supporting venues, engaging with door staff, and those enjoying the town to help keep antisocial behaviour and crime low. I would like to congratulate Chippenham for once again being recognised with Purple Flag status, an international accreditation for towns and cities offering a safe and welcoming night out.

Inspector Ho Tsang from the Trowbridge NPT joined you last week at the Trowbridge Shopwatch meeting, one of many ways in which our neighbourhood policing teams are building stronger relationships with local businesses. These conversations help us to better understand the challenges they face and to ensure that we are responding effectively.

Further data from the ONS report shows Theft offences have also declined by 6.5%, from 11,648 to 10,896 incidents, contrasting with a 1.9% increase across the region. This reflects the impact of increased patrols in retail areas, improved CCTV coverage and joint work with businesses to deter opportunistic theft and repeat offending.

In Swindon, our commitment to tackling serious and organised crime continues. You joined our neighbourhood policing teams during Operation Sacramento, an intelligence-led initiative aimed at dismantling criminal networks and protecting vulnerable people from exploitation. Through high-visibility patrols, targeted raids and strong community engagement, our officers are sending a clear message that Wiltshire will not tolerate those who seek to profit from harm.

Earlier this year, a multi-agency knife crime summit was launched in Swindon. The summit brought together police, youth services, local leaders, and community organisations to address the root causes of violence and strengthen preventative measures.

Following the summit, the latest quarterly report from ONS shows a significant reduction in possession of weapons - a 4.5% reduction in weapon offences in the year ending June 2025 compared to the previous year — a reduction from 420 incidents to 401.

Together, these examples demonstrate the breadth of work carried out by officers and our partners each day, from preventing crime, tackling antisocial behaviour, and supporting local businesses to protecting the most vulnerable in our communities.

Next week marks Safer Business Action Week, during which your office will be leading on the launch of the Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) in Salisbury. This will be an excellent opportunity for our partners to work together to tackle issues affecting business owners, share intelligence, bring more offenders to justice and make our town and city centres safer places to be. Our neighbourhood policing teams will be carrying out engagement activity across the county, including increased proactive patrols to support local business owners.

From the area boards and community engagement, my colleagues and I are conscious of concerns with regards to vehicle crime. Officers from the Local Police Tasking Team (LPTT) and Roads Policing Unit (RPU) took part in Operation Alliance between 13-19 October, a national week of activity targeting the organised theft of vehicles. Led by the policing national intelligence unit Opal and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), this operation resulted in one arrest and the recovery of a stolen vehicle.

Four officers from our Forensic Collisions Investigation Unit (FCIU) have also received Stolen Vehicle Examiner training and specialist equipment, which will enhance our capability to examine and identify vehicles and provide high-quality evidence to support prosecutions.

In addition, our neighbourhood officers engaged with members of the public who were more vulnerable to vehicle theft, providing forensic DNA marking kits designed to deter offenders and assist in returning vehicles to their rightful owners.

I was also pleased to see our younger communities recognising the significance of road safety during our recent Scouts day at Devizes Police Headquarters. The Scouts designed a series of social media graphics inspired by the national “Is Your Eyesight Roadworthy?” campaign and Operation Dark Night, our annual initiative promoting visibility and road safety. Three of their designs have since been digitally recreated and shared on our Force’s social media channels which you can view here.

It was wonderful to see young people taking such pride in their work and helping us to share such an important message. My thanks go to the Scouts, their leaders, and our dedicated staff and officers who ensured the event was such a positive and memorable experience.

I am delighted that my contract as Wiltshire Police Chief Constable has been extended to 2030. I would like to publicly thank you, Commissioner, for your ongoing support and belief in my leadership of policing for Wiltshire.

Policing is a privilege, and to serve the communities of this incredible county is a role I treasure.

I remain fully committed to continue improving Wiltshire Police. Having made some significant progress over the last few years, we are still navigating some real challenges – not least the financial pressures on our organisation – but I aspire for us to be a truly outstanding force, providing the best possible service.

I look forward with the same determination and ambition for the Force I had when I was appointed in 2023 and pledge to do all I can to ensure we are Keeping Wiltshire Safe.

Finally, as Remembrance Day approaches, I am reminded of the immense courage and sacrifice of those who have served our country. It is a moment to reflect and to ensure that their legacy lives on.

In Wiltshire, we will come together as a community to honour those who gave their lives and in remembering them, it inspires all of us in policing to serve with dedication, commitment and care.

Kindest regards,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

New youth lounge opens in Devizes to support young people and tackle anti-social behaviour

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:38:05 Z

Yesterday, the Police and Crime Commissioner joined local leaders, teenagers, and community supporters at the official opening of the Devizes Area Youth Lounge, a vibrant new space designed to engage, inspire and equip young people.

Located at 25 Sidmouth Street, the Lounge is a collaborative effort between Wiltshire Youth for Christ and Devizes Town Council, offering a welcoming environment where teenagers can relax, connect, and access opportunities for personal growth.

The PCC highlighted the importance of community led initiatives in supporting youth wellbeing and safety. The Lounge will also serve as a hub for promoting local youth clubs, activities, and skill building opportunities.

PCC urges retailers, local authorities and police to tackle crime together in Trowbridge

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:47:05 Z

Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson has spoken to retailers and businesses in Trowbridge about the need to continue to improve partnership working and increase intelligence following a meeting of the town's shopwatch group.

Mr Wilkinson spoke to the group about the intention to roll out Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRP) across Wiltshire after the first BCRP is launched in Salisbury in November and highlighted how they will improve links between the police, businesses and local councils.

Trowbridge has recently seen a targeted response to street drinking and anti-social behaviour in the town centre with 89 arrests being made from June until September.

At the meeting, Inspector Ho Tsang from the Trowbridge Neighbourhood Policing Team told the shop watch group that reported crime had dropped from month to month, but this was to be expected as a result of the positive action his team was taking in the town centre.

During the meeting, discussions were held around the confidence retail employees had to approach shoplifters and the different policies used by companies to deal with retail crime.

Retailers at the meeting also spoke about the issues they had with submitting CCTV evidence to the police.

At the end of the session, Mr Wilkinson said there were many points to take away and think about.

He said:

"What's clear from this meeting is there's an appetite for retailers to learn more about where they stand with regards to the law and how they can collect and submit CCTV evidence efficiently when their businesses are affected by crime.

"It's important that we build upon the strong relationships which have been forged by Inspector Tsang and his team, in order to continue to improve public confidence in the town centre.

"By introducing the idea of the BCRP to the retailers and Chamber of Commerce, I hope they see the benefits of partnership working when dealing with retail crime and will see this put into practice when the BCRP is launched in Salisbury."

Carey Tesler is the chair of Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce, and she welcomed the Police and Crime Commissioner's attendance at the shopwatch meeting:

"These regular meetings are vital in uniting our retail businesses, supported by The Trowbridge Chamber, Wiltshire Council, Trowbridge Town Council and Wiltshire Police. They encourage everyone to come together as a community to report and discourage crime throughout our County Town.

"Many smaller retailers are often not aware of the reporting options open to them, and larger firms often don't have inhouse security anymore, leaving shop staff to fend for themselves regarding shoplifting or anti social behaviour.

"We have already distributed simplified reporting sheets and issued Shopwatch deterrent stickers to retailers, but the Police and Crime Commissioner explained how the town could benefit from further insight into reporting options that most of our retailers were unaware of, and we look forward to forging a closer partnership with the PCC going forward."

Police and Crime Commissioner joins Swindon officers on Operation Sacramento

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 16:04:11 Z

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson joined frontline officers in Swindon as part of Operation Sacramento - a proactive policing initiative targeting serious and organised crime.

The operation, led by Wiltshire Police, involves high-visibility patrols, intelligence-led raids, and community reassurance activity. It forms part of a wider strategic approach to disrupt criminal networks, safeguard vulnerable individuals, and deliver on the priorities set out in Making Wiltshire Safer: Wiltshire Police and Crime Plan 2025-29.

Officers focused on tackling drug offences, gang-related violence, and exploitation linked to county lines activity – key areas identified in the Plan under the priority to reduce violence and serious harm.

Mr Wilkinson joined officers during the evening deployment to observe the operation in action and gain further insight into the practical realities of frontline policing.

“Being out with officers on the ground gives me a vital perspective on the challenges they face and the impact their work has on our communities.” he said.

“Operation Sacramento is a clear demonstration of our commitment to proactive policing and community safety. It is about sending a strong message that criminal behaviour will not be tolerated in Swindon or anywhere in Wiltshire.”

The Commissioner also praised the collaborative efforts between Wiltshire Police, local authorities, and community partners, which underpin the success of operations like Sacramento.

Mr Wilkinson added: “This is not just about enforcement—it is about prevention, partnership and protecting the most vulnerable. I’m proud to support our officers and ensure they have the resources and backing they need to keep our streets safe.”

Swindon Inspector Lawrence Copeland said: “Op Sacramento is a proactive policing initiative where we tackle high-harm offences and focusing on creating safer spaces for our communities.

“It is vitally important that we hear from residents which enables us to more effectively target our work.

“We often say that the public are our ears and eyes on the ground and that remains the case.

“If you have any concerns around drug dealing, antisocial behaviour or violence in your area, please report it to us. All intelligence submissions are received and enable us to create a fuller picture of what’s happening on the ground.

“Information can be reported on 101 or via our website.

“If a crime is in progress, always call 999.”

Operation Sacramento will continue over the coming weeks, with further activity planned across key areas of Swindon.

For more news from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, visit www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk/about-us/news

A thank you letter to the Crime and Communications Centre from Chief Inspector Al Lumley

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:07:40 Z

Dear {FIRST_NAME},

As International Control Room Week comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to give you a closer look inside the beating heart of Wiltshire Police – our Control Room. It’s here that a dedicated team of officers and staff work tirelessly, every hour of every day, to keep you, your loved ones, and our wider communities safe.

Our Control Room operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – never closing, never pausing. Every second, our teams are answering emergency 999 and non-emergency 101 calls, coordinating resources across Swindon and Wiltshire, and managing the wide range of incidents that unfold daily. What many people don’t see is the sheer scale of this operation – or the complexity and professionalism that goes into every single call.

As Chief Inspector for the Control Room, I have the privilege of leading almost 200 highly skilled and adaptable people. Our operating model is known for its flexibility, if a critical incident occurs, our staff can instantly switch focus and roles to ensure the right response at the right time. While much of our demand comes through traditional 999 and 101 channels, a growing number of incidents now arrive through online reports. Whatever the route, our teams ensure each request is assessed, prioritised, and handled with care and professionalism. It still surprises me how often serious crimes and incidents involving significant risk are reported online rather than over the phone, but regardless of how people reach out, our commitment remains the same: every call, every click, every message receives the highest level of service possible.

Over the past couple of years, our Control Room has undergone a remarkable transformation. Once one of the lowest-performing rooms nationally, we are now among the best. Consistently exceeding national standards for answering both 999 and 101 calls, and reducing the time it takes to get operational officers to those in need. For around the last year we have been hitting our national targets on 999 answer rates. Last month we achieved our best performance to-date at 7.6 seconds answering average, comfortably above the national average. This success is entirely down to the dedication and resilience of our staff, most of whom are themselves residents of Wiltshire and Swindon. They understand, first-hand, the importance of being there when it matters most.

For many people, calling the police on 999 may be the only call they ever make, perhaps on the worst day of their lives. Our staff never lose sight of that. They work tirelessly to ensure that each call is handled swiftly, professionally, and with empathy, doing everything possible to reduce harm and keep people safe.

Our team represents the very best of Wiltshire, people from all walks of life, with a wealth of experiences and backgrounds. From young adults beginning their careers to those nearing retirement who have spent their entire working lives here; from new parents juggling shift work and family life to grandparents passing on their wisdom. We have staff for whom English is their second or even third language, and those who have rarely stepped outside of Wiltshire. We have all shapes, sizes and differing abilities – and every person brings something unique. This diversity mirrors the communities we serve, helping our staff connect with, understand, and support callers through often deeply personal moments of crisis.

The work of a Control Room operator is far from easy. They face constant pressure and shifting demands, one moment taking a routine report, the next talking to someone in distress, perhaps threatening to harm themselves or others, or dispatching officers to a life-threatening emergency. Our staff often find themselves listening to danger unfold in real time, staying calm and focused as they direct help where it’s needed most. Only after an incident concludes can they pause, take a brief moment to gather their thoughts, before preparing for the next unpredictable call.

In just one year, this small but exceptional team handles over 100,000 emergency (999) and nearly 200,000 non-emergency (101) calls, each one met with professionalism, compassion, and unwavering dedication. I see daily the toll this work can take on our operators, but I also see the pride, resilience, and camaraderie that keeps this team going strong.

This International Control Room Week, I want to express my deepest gratitude, not only to our own incredible team here at Wiltshire Police, but to every person working in emergency service control rooms across the country. They are the unseen first responders, calm voices in chaos, steady hands in moments of fear, and a constant source of reassurance when it matters most.

To the officers and staff of the Wiltshire Police Control Room: thank you for your professionalism, your empathy, and your relentless commitment to keeping Wiltshire safe – every second, every day, all year round.

Yours sincerely,

Chief Inspector Al Lumley

Be safe this Halloween and Bonfire Weekend - Halloween Resources

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:47:38 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

It appears there has been a trick placed on the attachment settings when sending out the recent information on Halloween and Bonfire Night safety!

The “No Trick or Treat Here” posters and colouring in resources were not attached in the last update, but they are ready to download at your convenience now.

Have a safe Halloween and Bonfire Weekend if celebrating.

Be safe this Halloween and Bonfire Weekend

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:37:23 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

As Wiltshire gets ready for Halloween celebrations and Bonfire Night events, we are encouraging everyone to enjoy themselves safely and responsibly.

Halloween and Bonfire Night are fantastic opportunities for families and friends to come together, but we know they can also lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour, noise and firework-related incidents.

Wiltshire Police is asking all residents to look out for one another and make safety a priority this weekend.

Out and about this Halloween

If you’re trick-or-treating, heading to a party, or just out enjoying the evening, please remember:

Be respectful of those who do not wish to take part. Households can display a “No Trick or Treat” poster. There are different designs available and can be downloaded from our Halloween page. They are also attached with this message.

Plan your route and stay in well-lit areas.

Keep an eye on younger children and ensure they’re accompanied by a responsible adult.

If you’re driving, please slow down and be extra cautious as there may be pedestrians crossing roads unexpectedly.

Bonfire and firework safety

Bonfire and Firework nights brings spectacular displays, but fireworks can be dangerous if not handled properly. Before lighting any fireworks, check out our Fireworks page, which explains how to celebrate safely and within the law.

Key reminders:

Keep pets indoors and away from loud noises.

Respect your neighbours, particularly those who may be elderly, vulnerable or have sensory concerns.

Reporting issues

If you experience anti-social behaviour or unsafe activity:

Call 999 in an emergency.

Report non-urgent matters online at www.wiltshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or by calling 101.

If you are celebrating, have a safe and enjoyable weekend.

Halloween Information

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 17:46:03 Z

Halloween and Bonfire Night are ‘creeping’ up on us this week and whilst we hope everyone has a super time, we are aware that a proportion of the community do not participate.

We have been busy posting on social media some guidelines for how to behave! Please visit our website for resources including “no trick or treat posters” to print at home as well as some colouring in sheets if you need something extra to entertain your little wizards and witches this Halloween!

https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/police-forces/wiltshire-police/areas/campaigns/campaigns/halloween/

Enjoy and be safe!

Public reminded to remain alert following a week of activity to tackle organised vehicle crime

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 17:35:27 Z

Officers increased patrols of Wiltshire’s major road networks to disrupt and intercept criminal activity, as part of a national week of action targeting organised vehicle crime.

From 13 – 19 October, Wiltshire Police participated in Operation Alliance, a national week of increased activity targeting the organised theft of vehicles organised by policing’s national intelligence unit, Opal, and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS). The Local Police Tasking Team (LPTT) and Roads Policing Unit (RPU) were tasked to proactively search local road networks for suspicious vehicles. This led to officers pursuing a stolen vehicle being driven at speed in Swindon. Subsequently a man in his 20s was arrested for failing to stop, dangerous driving, possession with intent to supply class A drugs, drug driving, criminal damage, and aggravated vehicle taking. The stolen vehicle has since been recovered.

Neighbourhood policing officers have identified members of the public who are more vulnerable to vehicle theft. Over the week of action, officers distributed 20 specialist forensic DNA marking kits designed specifically for use on vehicles. The kits act as a deterrent to criminals and enable officers to easily identify the vehicle’s rightful owner if it was ever stolen.

Four Wiltshire Police officers from the Forensic Collisions Investigation Unit (FCIU) have been provided with Stolen Vehicle Examiners training and specialist equipment. This additional training will enable the officers to bolster their vehicle examination and identification skills and provide detailed, specialist prosecution evidence. This will support and enhance investigations into vehicle crime, thus providing more justice for victims.

Detective Inspector Steve Edwards from the Burglary Team, Complex Fraud Team, Digital Investigations & Intelligence Unit, and force lead for Operation Alliance said: “We recognise how significant vehicle crime can be for our communities, from disruption to livelihoods, to making people feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods.

“My message is simple; please report any suspicious circumstances to the police to help us build an accurate intelligence picture to bring offenders to justice. Information of interest includes descriptions of people acting suspiciously around vehicles and any locations you feel may be used to store stolen vehicles or their stripped parts. Often stolen vehicles will be stored in other locations for several days to determine if the vehicle is fitted with a tracker, before they are again moved. If anything does not feel right, we urge you to get in touch.”

Since January 2025, 345 instances of vehicle theft have been reported to Wiltshire Police. National statistics suggest that almost half (46%) of stolen vehicles were left unlocked in 2024*.

D/Insp Edwards continues: “I encourage everyone who owns or uses a vehicle to ensure it is locked as soon as it is left unattended to reduce the chances of theft by opportunist criminals. For vehicles with keyless entry, we suggest storing the vehicle’s keys in a radio frequency identification (RFID) blocker pouch to prevent relay theft.”

Details of security equipment recommended by the police, including RFID blocker pouches, can be found on Secured By Design’s website.

Wiltshire Police carried out localised operational activity as part of nationwide Operation Alliance efforts. Wider efforts saw joined up working with law enforcement agencies including the National Crime Agency, local police forces, the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, Border Force, and Port Authorities.

Reports of suspicious activity can be reported to the police via the website, in-person at an enquiry office, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Operation Alliance is led by Opal and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service. National results from the week include: 154 arrests, more than £2m stolen vehicles seized, and UK’s largest ever ‘chop shop’ raided. More information can be found here.

*Office for National Statistics, 2024.

PCC Philip Wilkinson responds to HMICFRS inspection

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:50:11 Z

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson has responded to a report published today that has graded Wiltshire Police as ‘requiring improvement’ in its vetting, professional standards, and counter-corruption arrangements following an inspection at the beginning of this year.

The inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) highlighted concerns around the lack of senior oversight in vetting decisions, delays in misconduct investigations, and vulnerabilities in how corruption intelligence is assessed and developed.

PCC Philip Wilkinson said: “The public rightly expects their police force to operate with integrity, transparency and accountability. This report makes clear that Wiltshire Police must do better to meet those expectations.

“While it is encouraging that the force is adequately staffed to meet vetting demand and is reinforcing professional standards through organisational learning, the absence of robust quality assurance and delays in handling complaints are unacceptable.

“Upon first receiving this report earlier this year I met with the Chief Constable to ensure that a clear and urgent action plan was in place, and I am reassured that all recommendations in the report have now been addressed and rapid improvements made.

“Improvements must be swift, measurable and sustained and I welcome the Chief Constable’s grasp of the issues outlined to ensure that Wiltshire Police have the necessary processes and oversight in place to robustly address poor performance and effectively manage misconduct and criminal investigations regarding officers and staff.

“My office will continue to hold the Chief Constable to account through enhanced scrutiny and regular performance reviews. We will also continue to work with partners and community leaders to ensure the public’s voice is central to the force’s improvement journey.

“Wiltshire residents deserve a police service that is both operationally effective and ethically sound. I am committed to ensuring that is delivered and our residents should be reassured that the issues and recommendations outlined in this report have been addressed and rectified.”

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner will continue to monitor Wiltshire Police’s progress closely and provide updates to the public.

The HMICFRS report can be read in full on their website
A report into the effectiveness of integrity arrangements in Wiltshire Police - His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services

www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk

Come and meet your local Policing Team

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:51:35 Z

On Friday 7th November, your local Neighbourhood Policing Team will be out and about in Westbury conducting Drop in sessions with the Mobile Police Station Van.

These drop-in sessions are a great opportunity for residents to:

Speak with a Police Community Support Officer

Share any local concerns or information

Get crime prevention advice and community updates

Times and locations

2 - 3.30pm - Westbury Main Street car park

4 - 5.30pm - One Stop, Queens Square

6 - 7pm - outside Lidl

7.30 - 8.30pm - Tesco Leigh Park car park

No appointment needed, just drop by for a chat! We’re always happy to meet members of the community and hear what matters to you.

Come and meet your local Policing Team

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:43:55 Z

On Wednesday 5th November, your local Neighbourhood Policing Team will be out and about in the villages and rural areas around Westbury conducting Drop in sessions with the Mobile Police Station Van.

These drop-in sessions are a great opportunity for residents to:

Speak with a Police Community Support Officer

Share any local concerns or information

Get crime prevention advice and community updates

Times and locations

3pm-4pm - Bratton, outside The Duke/Jubilee Hall

4.15pm-5.15pm - Bratton Camp White Horse Car Park

5.30pm-6.30pm Edington Priory Church Car Park

6.45pm-7.45pm - Dilton Marsh, outside Memorial Hall

No appointment needed, just drop by for a chat! We’re always happy to meet members of the community and hear what matters to you

Is Your Vision Roadworthy? – Wiltshire Police supports national road safety campaign

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 07:05:08 Z

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Wiltshire Police is supporting a national two-week road safety campaign asking all drivers a simple but important question: “Is your vision roadworthy?”

From today (Monday 27 October), officers will be carrying out roadside eyesight tests as part of efforts to reduce collisions resulting in people being killed or seriously injured (KSI) due to poor vision.

If a driver is unable to read a number plate from 20 metres in daylight conditions, they will be referred to the DVLA for further assessment and any appropriate action.

These tests may take place if officers suspect a driver has defective vision, for example following:

An incident of careless or dangerous driving

A collision

A failure to see or obey a road traffic sign

Drivers may also be offered the chance to voluntarily take part in a roadside eyesight test.

It’s estimated that up to 10% of drivers currently on the road do not meet the required eyesight standards - that’s over 3 million drivers nationwide.

Sergeant James Barrett, from the Wiltshire Police Roads Policing Unit said:

“Good vision is essential for driving because it allows us to see, react and avoid emerging hazards. In fact, almost all the information our brain uses to make good driving decisions comes from visual detection.

"Often, it’s the gradual deterioration of eyesight that affects drivers the most and many don’t realise their vision has fallen below the legal limit, or they adjust their driving habits by avoiding driving at night.

“As we get older, our sight naturally declines and many of us need glasses. It becomes a real concern when this goes uncorrected.

“By highlighting the importance of good vision and the role it plays in keeping everyone safe, we hope to encourage more people to get their eyesight checked regularly.”

So, before you get behind the wheel - ask yourself: Is your vision roadworthy?

For more information on driving eyesight rules, follow the link here: www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules.

Fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 24 October 2025

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 17:13:24 +0100

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

Effective policing relies on creating and nurturing strong partnerships with our communities, partner agencies, and local organisations.

Wiltshire Police is actively involved in numerous national and local collaborations with the sole aim of continually improving the service we provide to our communities.

For this letter, I would like to showcase just a handful of these partnership efforts which we’ve participated in over the last few weeks.

From a national perspective, there are two examples which underpin our commitment to partnership collaboration.

On Monday, I hosted the National Children and Young Person’s conference in Swindon. The conference brought together around a hundred professionals from a range of children’s charities and organisations including police forces, the Youth Justice Board, Centre for Justice Innovation, the Youth Endowment Fund, College of Policing, the King's Trust, Ministry of Justice, the Barrow Cadbury Trust and Premier League Kicks.

As National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Children and Young People, I am dedicated to improving policing services for children.

We know there are some fantastic examples of Child Centred Policing occurring all over the country and the NPCC Children and Young Persons Charter, which I also launched on Monday, provides a functional resource of tactical activities that forces should consider to improve their relationship with young people

Last week, our respective offices had extremely constructive meetings with Ian Caplan – the Director for Police Standards and Performance Improvement within the Home Office. Having consistency and transparency with how police forces are performing is fundamental to building trust and confidence with our communities. Our meetings with Mr Caplan were, therefore, a real opportunity for us to demonstrate the enhanced level of governance and grip we have over our performance – ensuring our focus remains on victims of crime and our service to the public.

Moving locally, as you and our communities would expect, we are intensely focused on developing our partnerships and opportunities to collaborate here in Wiltshire.

Last week, Acting Assistant Chief Constable Liz Coles and Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Wessex Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Sophie Stevens, organised a joint event with colleagues from both our organisations. The purpose of the whole day session was to further embed our victim centred approach to crime. We had colleagues from our file preparation teams, our victim and witness care team and operational officers and staff alongside counterparts from the CPS in attendance. A case study was worked through with the objective of sharing current challenges and looking to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of how our organisations work together. The session was closed by Her Honour Judge Angela Morris who outlined the importance of collaboration between police and CPS.

Also last week, a series of warrants were conducted at premises in Chippenham as part of a South West joint operation which led to the safeguarding of five women and the arrest of five people. The investigation into suspected modern slavery and human trafficking saw warrants also executed at ‘massage parlours’ in Gloucestershire, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Reading. Officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) arrested three men and two women on suspicion of human trafficking, conspiracy to control prostitution for gain, and money laundering.

The investigation started following public concerns raised to Wiltshire Police about two premises in Chippenham. As a result of this intelligence from our communities and working in partnership with other forces, we have now protected several vulnerable women who will receive the support they need and deserve, whilst also arresting those who we suspect of causing considerable harm to others in Wiltshire and beyond.

With tangible results, we are working ever closer with our partners to make our communities safer, including having a relentless focus on tackling retail crime and ASB. This year, colleagues from our Swindon NPTs have successfully worked with Swindon Borough Council to secure two Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) across Swindon town centre.

The PSPOs give officers from both the council and Wiltshire Police the legal authority to challenge and fine individuals who are engaging in disruptive or dangerous activities.

This includes a ban on riding e-bikes and e-scooters in the designated area, alongside other restrictions such as street drinking, public urination and riding pedal bikes in a way that endangers pedestrians.

One of the PSPOs covers the Broadgreen area which will also support our continuing multi-agency Clear, Hold, Build initiative led by Swindon Borough Council. Clear, Hold, Build aims to tackle organised crime, drugs offences and Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB). Our communities can read more about the PSPO here. The second order, which will be in place by the end of November, will tackle the issue of illegal car meets in the town.

We have also seen the launch of the Swindon Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) Panel. CBOs replaced Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) in 2014 and prohibit the offender from doing anything outlined in the order which can include them being banned from certain shops or areas.

This multi-agency panel – consisting of officers from the Swindon NPT, probation colleagues and representatives from drug and alcohol services, consider when CBOs should be applied and what restrictions each should have. Currently, we have nine active CBOs in Swindon.

Responding to concerns raised by local communities, last year, we launched our Vigilant Communities scheme, which aims to encourage people to report concerning and predatory behaviour displayed within the Night Time Economy. We work with local authorities, CCTV operators, local companies and community groups who receive detailed training and advice on how to spot the signs and report it to us. Teams were deployed in Swindon over the last few weekends resulting in several men being dispersed from the area for the entire weekend.

This scheme illustrates our commitment, along with our partners, to pursue and proactively challenge ‘red-flag’ behaviours and ultimately protect the public by preventing them becoming victims in the first place.

Across the rest of the county, we currently have PSPO’s in place within Salisbury, Devizes and Trowbridge. They are predominantly linked to ASB caused by street drinking and are managed by the Neighbourhood Policing Teams. The PSPO in Salisbury also relates to the prevention of catapult use in a specific area, which has been linked to ASB. All PSPO’s are managed through the local NPT’s and engagement with Wiltshire Council and partners, supported through local tasking meetings.

I regularly praise the incredible efforts by our volunteers – and we would not be successful in keeping Wiltshire safe without them. We both attended the AGM of the Wiltshire Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) Association held our headquarters last Saturday. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear about their dedicated work to their local villages and towns, and for them to raise concerns directly to us to see what further support we could give. More information on the NHW can be found here. In Wiltshire, we currently have ten watch schemes: Hotel, CCTV, Dog, Horse, Farm, Heritage, Canal, Horse riders, Pub and Shop Watch. Information on these schemes can be found on our website.

We coordinate and support a range of engagement events and activities to improve the trust and confidence of children and young people across the county, and this includes initiatives to inspire young people to take pride in their neighbourhoods. PCSO Kelly Hillier from our Royal Wootton Bassett NPT recently ran a competition for local children to design a mural for public toilets which have been repeatedly vandalised. Kelly worked with the local town council and students from the Royal Wootton Basset Academy and painting of the winning design started this week.

Earlier this year, the Wiltshire & Swindon Youth Commission (WSYC) – funded by your office– surveyed over 600 young people for their views on policing. Knife crime, mental health, social media, and community communication were among the top issues they raised. Next week, the Youth Commissioners will spend time with our policing teams – including the dog and drone units – to learn more about their roles in keeping our communities safe. They are also meeting with members of our communications team to help shape our social media presence to ensure our content resonates with younger audiences.

Finally, I wanted to share the fantastic news that, last night, two Wiltshire Police nominees were recognised at the national Police Public Bravery Awards. I was honoured to represent Wiltshire Police at the awards ceremony hosted by South Yorkshire Police where two members of the public were acknowledged for their acts of bravery.

Ashton McCabe was presented a silver award after helping to save the life of man who had been stabbed in Devizes in June 2024. Whilst an officer and PCSO were detaining the offender – who was still brandishing a knife – Mr McCabe, who was just 17 years old at the time, jumped in to help the victim who had suffered significant injuries. He conducted first aid and directed other members of the public to help him.

Mr McCabe kept the victim’s bleeding to a minimum before the ambulance crews arrived on scene and took over. He then turned his attention to supporting others at the scene before arranging to give his police statement immediately to assist the investigation. His actions undoubtedly contributed to help save the victim’s life. The offender was later sentenced for attempted murder.

Michael Griffiths was awarded a certificate of commendation for his act of bravery in September last year. Mr Griffiths was in a pharmacy in Melksham when a male entered holding a large kitchen knife. The offender then proceeded to steal items before running away. Mr Griffiths took it upon himself to give chase to the male before the suspect jumped into a car and sped away. Mr Griffiths took a photo of the registration plate, and this information led our officers to locate the offender who later pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article. If it were not for Mr Griffiths bravery in chasing an armed offender and obtaining a photograph of the vehicle then we might not have been able to bring a dangerous offender to justice.

I would like to pay tribute to both Mr McCabe and Mr Griffiths who put themselves in harm’s way to help others. They embody the true meaning of public duty, and I thank them both.

I appreciate that this is a ‘bumper edition’ of the letter! However, there is much to celebrate with our partners and communities, both locally and beyond, and I wanted to take a moment to recognise the real and impactive results that we are achieving together.

Kindest regards to you,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

Chapmanslade- Community Drop-in : Sat 06 Dec 15:00-17:00

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 14:36:54 +0100

Dear All,

Rural Police Community Drop-In – Come and Have a Chat! 🌾

We’d love you to pop by for a cuppa and a chat about what matters most in your area. This is a great opportunity to:

✅ Meet your local officers

✅ Share any concerns or information about rural crime or community issues

✅ Get advice on farm and property security

✅ Learn more about what we’re doing to keep our countryside safe

There’s no need to book – just drop in when you can. Whether you want to raise a concern, get some advice, or simply say hello, we’d be delighted to see you.

Look forward to seeing you all there!

Kind regards,

Lukasz Kolasinski 70901

Police Community Support Officer

Warminster Rural Beat Warminster Area Neighbourhood Policing Team (Warminster, Westbury, Tisbury, Mere) Police Station, The Avenue, Warminster, BA12 9AA

lukasz.kolasinski@witlshire.police.uk
07471029004

If you need, visit our Enquiry Office - Trowbridge

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:27:10 +0100

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Need to speak to us in person? Our Trowbridge Enquiry Office is open and we’re ready to help.

📍 Location: Trowbridge Police Station, Polebarn Road, BA14 7EP

🕒 Opening hours:
• Monday to Friday – 8:30am to 5:30pm
• Saturday – 9:00am to 1:00pm

You can visit us for a range of services, including:
✅ Reporting a crime or anti-social behaviour concerns
✅ Producing documents requested by police (such as driving documents)
✅ Getting advice on local policing issues or community safety

Our Enquiry Officers are here to offer advice and support to help keep you and your community safe.

Please remember:
📞 Always dial 999 in an emergency – if a crime is in progress, someone is in danger or you need immediate police assistance.

For non-emergencies, you can also report online at: www.wiltshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

Where should our Mobile Police Station visit next? We want to hear from you!

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 10:01:35 +0100

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Our Mobile Police Station is an important way for us to meet you in your community, listen to your concerns and offer advice or support.

We’re planning future visits and would like your help to decide where we should go next.

Please complete our short survey before 11.45pm on Sunday 9 November to share your views: https://forms.office.com/e/YyWG4iDens

This will help us make sure we’re visible and accessible where it matters most.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Where should our Mobile Police Station visit next? We want to hear from you!

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 10:01:24 +0100

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Our Mobile Police Station is an important way for us to meet you in your community, listen to your concerns and offer advice or support.

We’re planning future visits and would like your help to decide where we should go next.
Please complete our short survey before 11.45pm on Sunday 9 November to share your views:

https://forms.office.com/e/hh0Fw0PLkj

Your reply helps us make sure we’re visible and accessible where it matters most.
#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Chitterne Village- Police Community Drop-In : Sat 08 Nov 14:30

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 08:44:35 +0100

Dear All,

🚓 Rural Police Community Drop-In – Come and Have a Chat! 🌾

We’d love you to pop by for a cuppa and a chat about what matters most in your area. This is a great opportunity to:

✅ Meet your local officers

✅ Share any concerns or information about rural crime or community issues

✅ Get advice on farm and property security

✅ Learn more about what we’re doing to keep our countryside safe

There’s no need to book – just drop in when you can. Whether you want to raise a concern, get some advice, or simply say hello, we’d be delighted to see you.

📍 Location: Chitterne- local village hall

🗓️ Date: 08/11/2025

🕒 Time: 1430-1600hrs

Devizes Area Neighbourhood Policing Team - Community Drop-in Update

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:23:02 +0100

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

A quick update to say unfortunately the mobile police station community drop-in at Broad Hinton scheduled for tomorrow afternoon (16/10/25) will be rescheduled at a later date due to operational commitments.

However, the following events for the rest of the week will still be on:

Thu 16 Oct – Market Place Consultation, Devizes (9:30am–12:30pm)

Fri 17 Oct – Morrisons, Devizes (10:30am–11:30am) and Whitehall Garden Centre, Woodborough (1pm–3pm)

Sat 18 Oct – Mind Tree Café, Rowde (10am–12pm) and Marlborough Mop (from 12pm onwards).

Come along for a chat, raise any concerns, or just say hello – we’d love to see you.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Amesbury Neighbourhood Policing Team – Out and about with the mobile police station

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:43:22 +0100

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

The Wiltshire Police mobile police station will be visiting a number of locations across the area next week. Come along to speak with your local officers, whether you have a concern to raise or just want to say "hello".

Monday 20 October
📍 11:00–11:45am – Phoenix Hall, Netheravon
📍 12:00–12:45pm – Enford Hill, Enford (what3words: ///detergent.hurls.trams)
📍 2:00–3:00pm – Tidworth Leisure Centre car park

Tuesday 21 October
📍 11:00–11:45am – Upper Chute (near what3words: ///buckling.sample.steaming)
📍 12:30–1:30pm – Near Tesco, Ludgershall
📍 3:00–5:00pm – Tesco, Amesbury

Wednesday 22 October
📍 5:00–6:00pm – Village Hall, Collingbourne Ducis

Saturday 25 October
📍 2:00–3:00pm – Bulford Working Men’s Club

Sunday 26 October
📍 11:00am–12:00pm – Durrington Recreation Ground

We look forward to seeing you there!

ℹ️ what3words provides a simple way to identify precise locations using a unique combination of three words. You can download the free app or visit what3words.com to find or navigate to a spot easily.

Where should our Mobile Police Station visit next? We want to hear from you!

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:31:32 +0100

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Our Mobile Police Station is an important way for us to meet you in your community, listen to your concerns and offer advice or support.
We’re planning future visits and would like your help to decide where we should go next.
Please complete our short survey before 11.45pm on Sunday 9 November to share your views: https://forms.office.com/e/xnjxbKkGYn
Your reply helps us make sure we’re visible and accessible where it matters most.

Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 10 October 2025

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 16:11:55 +0100

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

I could not begin this letter without referencing the appalling terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester last week.

The attack on the Jewish community on Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar - has understandably caused widespread distress to so many of our communities. My thoughts remain with the families and friends who lost loved ones and the members of all our Jewish communities across the country who will no doubt have been left feeling extremely scared and vulnerable.

We are so fortunate to have many multi-cultural communities across Wiltshire so I have no doubt that many in our county will feel a sense of vulnerability at these times. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, our local policing teams worked diligently to reach out to our communities, and we increased our policing presence to provide reassurance.

I would like to publicly thank my officers, staff and volunteers who have provided support and additional opportunities for our communities to engage with us during this time.

I am always thankful of how our communities support each other and how welcome they make Wiltshire Police teams feel. I would encourage anyone wishing to make contact with their local Neighbourhood Policing Team to reach out to them via the Your Area section of our website.

Next week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

Nobody should ever be targeted or subjected to abuse on the grounds of their race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability and we will always take a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime.

We remain completely focused on supporting victims and I would encourage anyone who has been subjected to any form of hate crime to report it to us or one of our partner agencies. You can find out more information on how to report hate crimes here.

In Wiltshire, we have seen a 36% increase in the overall volume of reported hate crimes in the last three months, with the increase mainly being reported in crimes linked to racial and sexual orientation. Whilst I am pleased that victims are feeling more confident to report these crimes to us, I am determined to continue to enhance our governance of this and provide a more consistent service to victims.

To this end, Chief Inspector Ricky Lee now chairs weekly meetings where he discusses any new hate crime reports which have been made, ensures the right level of scrutiny is being applied to our enquiries and, moreover, that we are providing the best possible service to victims.

Our commitment to robustly dealing with offenders is reflected in our hate crime conviction rates which, for the period between October 2024 to September 2025, was 87.29% compared to a national average of 85.55%.

The satisfaction rates of our hate crime victims have also significantly increased from 65.6% in February this year to 77.2% in August. I hope this again reflects our commitment and consistency when investigating hate crime and the increasing trust and confidence our communities have in us.

Since I arrived here in Wiltshire, I have made it clear that Equality, Diversity and Inclusion should feature as a central pillar to our policing approach. To this end, our new five-year Culture and Inclusion Strategy will shortly be published to our communities.

This strategy, which has been developed by our workforce and members of our Independent Advisory Groups (IAGs), sets out our ambition for the future and the tangible delivery outcomes our communities will see and can measure us on.

Last week, I was honoured to attend the National Black Police Association’s annual conference in London alongside Detective Chief Superintendent Guy Elkins and members of our Wiltshire Ethnic Police Association Staff Support Network.

The focus of this crucial event was on police accountability, building trust and ensuring fairness and justice for all.

This is essential in ensuring the legitimacy of policing in England and Wales and I addressed this in the extraordinary letter to you last week following the BBC Panorama programme.

Alongside our organisational efforts, it is important that we celebrate individual achievements in this space. I am delighted to share that Dave Grainger, one of our Contact Centre Operators, recently received national recognition for his work representing police staff and officers with disabilities, health conditions and neurodiversity. Dave was awarded the Staff Member with Diverse Abilities Award at the National Disabled Police Association Awards last month. This is a significant achievement, and I am incredibly proud of Dave and the work he does within the force and in our communities to help those with neurodivergent conditions and other disabilities. You can read more about Dave’s recent success here.

Luke Newton, who has worked in our Crime and Communications Centre for 10 years, has had his achievements recognised nationally, after being shortlisted in the final two for a British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) award.

This prestigious award celebrates inspirational individuals with disabilities, and Luke’s nomination is a significant achievement for both him and Wiltshire Police. Luke joined our organisation in 2016 through the Down’s Syndrome Association employment programme.

I met with Luke on Wednesday, alongside his line manager Amy Outlaw and Roy Perrett from the Down’s Syndrome Association’s Workfit scheme to congratulate him on being shortlisted. Luke will find out if he is successful at an awards event in London in November. Luke will be joined by his family and our Chief Officer Group member and Head of Corporate Communication and Public Engagement Scott McPherson. Scott is also running the London Marathon next year for the Down’s Syndrome Association in tribute to his nephew Sonny.

Yesterday, our communities would have seen the proactive statement I made upon the conclusion of a former police staff member’s disciplinary hearing linked to a series of safeguarding failings.

The hearing concluded that Gavin Hudson’s failures within our Clare’s Law process put women at continued risk of domestic abuse and that he would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had he not resigned.

These critical service failures resulted in at least three women being subsequently harmed. Had we provided them with the right information, this might have been prevented.

I would encourage our communities to read my full statement which details the significant changes and improvements we’ve made following these serious failures. This includes us strengthening the oversight and leadership for the Domestic Abuse Safeguarding Team, appointing more Clare’s Law specialists and introducing more robust policies.

We are ensuring that everyone within our organisation understands their role in tackling domestic abuse – this has included us dedicating the month of October to an internal domestic abuse awareness raising campaign.

As I have said from the moment we were alerted to this issue, I am so very sorry for our failure to protect people from harm.

You can read my full statement here.

Finally, I have often shared updates on the work we are doing to enhance the relationship between policing and young people. As the National Police Chief Council’s (NPCC) lead for this portfolio, this is an area of policing I am incredibly passionate about.

I wanted to appraise our communities of some exciting work happening in this area.

Earlier this week, the BBC’s File on 4 Investigates programme focused on the incredible work of the Swindon Youth Justice Service – of which we are a proud partner. The service, which tackles issues that might lead young people to offending behaviour, was recently rated as Outstanding by HM Inspectorate of Probation. You can read the full story here.

On Monday 20 October, I will be hosting the NPCC Children and Young Persons Portfolio conference in Swindon. In addition to hosting speakers from a range of children’s charities and organisations, we will be using the event to officially launch the national Children and Young People (CYP) Charter. This will accompany the NPCC CYP Policing Strategy aiming to improve how police serve children and young people. Based on principles of ‘Your trust, Your voice, Your future’, it will include a resource of tactical activities to aid forces become more child-centred

Last week, my regular Facebook Live event was focused on Children and Young People, and it was wonderful to see such engagement on this topic from the public. Many of the questions raised focused on how we recognise children who might be vulnerable or at risk, so I was delighted to be joined by Detective Superintendent Joe Garrity who outlined our approach to safeguarding children. There is raft of information available for parents, guardians and professionals on our website. In May, Sgt Gemma Rutter also published an open letter to parents to ensure they had access to the available advice and support if they are concerned their child is at risk. This letter has been circulated on our behalf by schools across the county

I’m thrilled that we will once again host Scouts from across Wiltshire in an interactive day as part of the Wiltshire Police Scout Challenge Badge this Sunday. The Scouts will be faced with a range of challenging activities aimed at giving them a realistic view of police work. Scouts, like many other youth organisations, embody everything we value in policing, from leadership and resilience to a commitment to helping others and I know this event will empower these young people to make choices that benefit their future.

Kindest regards to you,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police

Mobile Police Station – Out and about with the neighbourhood policing team

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 17:34:37 +0100

Hello {FIRST_NAME},

Your neighbourhood policing team (NPT) will be bringing the Mobile Police Station to communities across the Devizes NPT area from Monday 13 October.

This is a great opportunity to:

✔ Speak directly with PCSOs and officers about local issues
✔ Share concerns around crime, anti-social behaviour or community safety
✔ Pick up crime prevention advice

📍 Where you can find us:

Mon 13 Oct – Ramsbury Fire Station (11am–12pm) and Pewsey Bouverie Hall (2pm–3pm)

Tue 14 Oct – St Arbucks, Market Lavington (10am–12pm) and Marlborough Corner House (2pm–3pm)

Wed 15 Oct – Potterne Village Shop (9:30am–10:30am) and West Lavington Village Hall (1:45pm–3:30pm)

Thu 16 Oct – Market Place Consultation, Devizes (9:30am–12:30pm) and Broad Hinton (2pm–3pm)

Fri 17 Oct – Morrisons, Devizes (10:30am–11:30am) and Whitehall Garden Centre, Woodborough (1pm–3pm)

Sat 18 Oct – Mind Tree Café, Rowde (10am–12pm) and Marlborough Mop (from 12pm onwards).

Come along for a chat, raise any concerns, or just say hello – we’d love to see you.

#NeighbourhoodPolicing

Police and Crime Commissioner Backs Collaborative Action to Make Salisbury Safer

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 18:19:40 +0100

Street drinking, retail crime and anti-social behaviour were some of the key issues discussed as Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, met with business representatives, council officials and outreach recovery workers at a specially held event in Salisbury city centre organised by Wiltshire Police.

A walkabout in the city centre was led by Inspector Laura Elliott from the Salisbury Neighbourhood Policing Team, and took the group through hotspot areas in the Maltings, Guildhall Square and Culver Street, where they talked about measures which had been taken to address the problems being reported to the police and local council.

Recently, anti-social behaviour wardens have returned to the city centre after a two-month hiatus, whilst anti-social behaviour hotspot funding has led to increased patrols by police officers.

During the walkabout, the group were shown where Safer Streets funding, obtained by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), had been used to provide security fencing at Salisbury Playhouse and had also been used to upgrade CCTV provision in the city.

Whilst visiting areas used by rough sleepers in the city’s car parks, the Police and Crime Commissioner heard about the services offered by Connect Wiltshire, which is jointly funded by the OPCC and Wiltshire Council.

Mr Wilkinson said:

“It is an absolute prerequisite that we get everybody together to tackle these wider issues and taking a comprehensive approach is absolutely fundamental to success.

“I’ve spoken frequently about the need to address the underlying causes of anti-social behaviour and street drinking and my office funds a raft of organisations to try and get into those social and economic conditions that cause people to behave in an anti-social manner.

“That requires a multi-agency approach and for us all to work together to make the city centre a safer place for everyone.”

Salisbury city centre has been subject to a Public Space Protection Order since May 2024, meaning police officers can approach people street-drinking in the city centre and ask them to stop drinking alcohol and to surrender anything believed to be an alcohol container.

Inspector Elliott recognises this as one of a number of approaches open to authorities to deal with anti-social behaviour:

"We are actively developing new approaches to better identify and monitor individuals who are repeatedly involved in anti-social behaviour (ASB) and street drinking within Salisbury. This work is being carried out alongside our partners, including the Salisbury Business Improvement District (BID) and Wiltshire Council’s ASB team."

"We fully understand the disruption and concern that persistent ASB causes for residents, businesses and visitors. We are committed to tackling these issues in a proactive and joined-up way. Our officers continue to carry out high-visibility patrols in key hotspot areas, both to deter offending and to provide reassurance. At the same time, we are working to ensure that those who are vulnerable or in need of support are identified and directed towards the right services."

Later this year, a Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) will be introduced in Salisbury, which will closer working between the police, local authorities and local businesses.

Dan Collins is the Business Manager for Salisbury BID:

“It’s important that all partners are involved because these are such complex issues, we need to pool our resources to get the positive results we want for Salisbury.

“Seeing all these agencies working together gives our members a huge amount of confidence to report these issues because they can see the results in these emerging partnerships which will be cemented by the introduction of the BCRP.”

Anna Angel is the Crime Prevention Tactical Advisor, Neighbourhood Harm and Reduction at Wiltshire Police:

“Tackling issues like violence, anti-social behaviour, and vulnerability in the heart of Salisbury takes more than policing, it takes partnership.

“The walkabout today brought everyone together to see first-hand the spaces and the stories behind the data.

“When police, local authorities, health, charities, businesses, and community partners share one vision, we stop managing problems and start preventing them.

“That’s how we make Salisbury safer, not through enforcement alone, but through collaboration, compassion, and long-term problem solving."

Mobile Police Station back at Warminster Rural on 3rd November 2025 : Mon 03 Nov 09:30

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:18:28 +0100

Dear Residents,

I hope this message finds you well.

I’m pleased to let you know that the Mobile Police Station will be back on the beat on Monday, 3rd November, visiting several villages across the area. This provides a great opportunity for residents to meet their local policing team, discuss any community concerns, and receive advice on crime prevention and rural safety.

I would be delighted to meeting you all at you respective locations outlined below:

📅 Monday 3rd November – Community Drop-In Sessions

• Codford Village Hall: 09:30 – 10:30

• Upton Lovell Village Hall: 10:45 – 11:45

• Longbridge Deverill – The George Inn Pub: 12:00 – 13:00

• Chapmanslade – The Three Horseshoes Pub: 13:15 – 14:15

• Corsley – The Royal Oak Pub: 14:30 – 15:30

No appointment is necessary – everyone is welcome to drop in for a chat, share any local concerns, or simply find out more about what we’re doing to support our rural communities.

Kind regards,

Lukasz Kolasinski 70901 Police Community Support Officer
Warminster Rural Beat Warminster Area Neighbourhood Policing Team (Warminster, Westbury, Tisbury, Mere) Police Station, The Avenue, Warminster, BA12 9AA

Email:	lukasz.kolasinski@witlshire.police.uk
Mobile:	07471029004

Rural Community Police Drop-in session : Thu 23 Oct 17:00

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 13:40:28 +0100

Dear All,

🚓 Rural Community Drop-In – Come and Have a Chat! 🌾

We’d love you to pop by for a cuppa and a chat about what matters most in your area. This is a great opportunity to:

✅ Meet your local officers

✅ Share any concerns or information about rural crime or community issues

✅ Get advice on farm and property security

✅ Learn more about what we’re doing to keep our countryside safe

There’s no need to book – just drop in when you can. Whether you want to raise a concern, get some advice, or simply say hello, we’d be delighted to see you.

📍 Location: Sutton Veny- local village hall

🗓️ Date: 23/10/2025

🕒 Time: 1700-1900hrs

Community engagement : Fri 10 Oct 14:00

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 10:42:20 +0100

We are encouraging the public to have their say. Your local Neighbourhood Team will be available in the mobile police station at the above time and location.

Please take this opportunity to raise any concerns you may have and to find out what we are doing to tackle the issues that matter to you.

{ENGAGEMENT --Community engagement-- [312799]}

Community engagement : Mon 06 Oct 10:00

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 10:31:24 +0100

We are encouraging the public to have their say. Your local Neighbourhood Team will be available in the mobile police station at the above time and location.

Please take this opportunity to raise any concerns you may have and to find out what we are doing to tackle the issues that matter to you.

{ENGAGEMENT --Community engagement-- [312795]}