Keeping communities informed with digital tools

In recent years, my office has worked hard to improve transparency and engagement between the police and the public and I’ve always been an advocate for better informed communities. 
 
That’s why I want to highlight some key tools available on both the OPCC and Wiltshire Police websites, starting with the ‘Your Area’ section of the Wiltshire Police homepage.  
 
This platform allows you to input your postcode and acts as a window into your neighbourhood’s policing activity by showing up to date local crime stats, so you can see what’s happening in your community—from burglary to antisocial behaviour—and how trends are changing. 
   
We know that a visible police presence matters to communities, and my office has recently invested in two new mobile police stations to make policing services more accessible, even in the most rural of areas. 
 
You will soon be able to find upcoming dates and locations of these mobile police stations, as well as a list of police station opening times and your Neighbourhood Policing Team officers. 
    
Another useful digital tool is the Street Safe page. This is a service that allows you to report safety concerns in public places anonymously, including issues like poorly lit streets, abandoned buildings, or vandalism, as well as instances where you feel unsafe due to someone following or verbally abusing you. 
 
On the OPCC website you can find my latest Police and Crime Plan which was developed after an in-depth public consultation period with the public, local stakeholders, and policing professionals with both local, regional and national input. It outlines the main priorities for the force up until 2029, which is also helpful to keep up to date with areas of focus. 
 
Delivery against the Police and Crime Plan is recorded quarterly in Highlight and Performance reports which are also published on the OPCC website as well as presented to the Police and Crime Panel. 
 
I encourage all residents to explore these various tools and webpages, bookmark them, and use them to stay informed and engaged with policing in your communities.