Restoring public trust and confidence in policing a recurring theme in national reports

Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has said public trust and confidence in the police will not be rebuilt until victims and witnesses get the service they rightly expect and deserve across all levels of policing.

PCC Philip Wilkinson’s comments came in response to the State of Policing 2023 report which was published last week, and is the annual review that His Majesty’s Chief Inspector Andy Cooke gives of policing nationally. 

The same theme of lack of trust and confidence in policing, and adopting a better victim-centred approach, has also been expressed in today’s National Police Chief Council statement on how policing is tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, and was also highlighted in how far policing had advanced against the Police Race Action Plan (PRAP) in the Independent Strategic Oversight Board’s Annual Report publication last week. 

Although Mr Wilkinson said building trust and confidence with communities is a core responsibility for Wiltshire Police he has cautioned the Force cannot undo this in isolation and standards must be driven up across the country – and across multiple policing demand - for public faith to be restored.

This year's report highlights that nationally police are still failing to meet the public’s expectations and are letting down too many victims of crime. It goes on to reveal without fundamental reform to the criminal justice system, victims will continue to struggle to get access to the justice they deserve.

In Wiltshire both the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable have been determined to start from the foundations and drive-up the standards so that vulnerable people are protected and improvements to the way in the Force identifies vulnerability at the first point of contact - part of the criticism received from HMICFRS in its last PEEL report for its service to victims.

In addition to improved strategic planning, this progress against the victims and vulnerable people space saw Wiltshire Police removed from ‘special measures’ in May 2024 and lifted out of the Engage process in recognition of the significant improvements that had been made.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: “While I am proud of the progress that has been made locally in recent years under Chief Constable Catherine Roper, we both recognise that there is still work to be done so that every victim and witness is receiving the service they deserve, and rightly, expect from Wiltshire Police.

“I am grateful the significant progress Wiltshire Police has made in that time has been highlighted within the report and I continue to scrutinise and support the Chief Constable in driving up standards in victim care.

“But for wholescale change to public confidence and trust, improvements and progress must be seen on a national scale. Wiltshire is a safe place to live but we still have some way to go for people to feel safe, which is different altogether than statistics telling them they are safe, but the Chief Constable and I are determined to work on this.

“The new Government’s priorities of focusing on knife crime, and its root causes, alongside greater emphasis on ridding anti-social behaviour from our streets is welcomed and is already being given high priority in Wiltshire as part of my police and crime plan – and being delivered operationally by the Force. 

"This coupled with the commitment to neighbourhood policing, given in last week’s King’s Speech, will provide additional reassurance and visibility in our communities – a core solution that most communities say will improve their trust and confidence in policing.

“I also fully support the Chief Inspector’s call for greater funding certainty for police forces that multi-year funding settlements would provide, the current single-year settlements are not conducive to effective forward planning, and I continue to lobby the Government for a system that enables sensible and realistic financial planning, ensuring value for money for the public.

"If we can really start delivering locally - as well as nationally - the public's view point may start to change for the better."

Published Wednesday 24 July 2024