Crime plan focus to improve trust and confidence in policing

Since becoming Wiltshire and Swindon’s Police and Crime Commissioner it would be fair to say I can see the public’s and confidence in policing, generally, is at the lowest it’s ever been.

Both myself and Wiltshire’s Chief Constable are more than aware that seismic culture change within the police service is desperately needed if we are going to change this perception and for the public’s faith to be restored.

At the heart of this lays my main driving philosophy: Wiltshire and Swindon's residents need to get the policing service they demand and deserve and Wiltshire Police must deliver the service that residents want - a quality, frontline, policing service which tackles the crimes which matter most to them.

My latest police and crime plan: Making Wiltshire Safer has been informed by our residents. Throughout my consultation – and subsequent focus group sessions – I have been told extremely loudly, and very clearly, what residents would like to see from their police service.

Making Wiltshire Safer sets out the direction for policing focus and priorities until 2025 as well as explaining the funding I receive and how it will be spent during my first term in office.

We will increase engagement with communities, as well as ensuring a quality service is provided to all communities and making sure the police have the right tools for the job.

We will tackle domestic abuse and reduce violence in communities and implement focused strategies to tackle violence against women and girls, child abuse and exploitation, as well as a focusing on county lines, serious organised crime and modern slavery.

We will tackle crimes that matter most to local communities, which includes focus on anti-social behaviour of all sorts in communities, improving road safety and tackling speeding, tackling rural and heritage crime, as well as fraud, cyber crime and hate crime.

And we will improve the experience of victims and deliver justice - focusing on victim care and support, the impact of mental health issues, working with partners to improve the criminal justice system, as well as reducing re-offending and delivering new restorative justice approaches

Our public want to have confidence in policing again. And I want Wiltshire Police, and my office, to engage more with local communities and involve them in decision making and keeping their communities safe.

We need to excel at the basics on greater police visibility, customer service, standards and accountability, ensure communities know they are being heard and listened to. 

It is now time for us  - my office, Wiltshire Police and other key partners - to work together to ensure our delivery is impactful and makes the difference we all want to see – a safer Wiltshire for all.

Residents can download a copy of the Plan or find a plain text version on the PCC website: Police and Crime Plan 2022 – 2025 (wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk).

A more interactive version of the plan can be found here: Making Wiltshire Safer - Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Plan 2022-2025 (office.com).

Published Monday 21 March 2022