PCC Philip Wilkinson’s longer statement on Wiltshire Police lifted from ‘Special Measures’

Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said he was extremely pleased to receive confirmation that, as of today, his Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has lifted Wiltshire Police from Engage status or ‘Special Measures’.

Mr Wilkinson said: “Today’s announcement is excellent news and rightly highlights the hard work and progress made by the officers, staff and volunteers, of Wiltshire Police since 2022. They have my warmest congratulations.

“It has been a joint priority of Wiltshire Police and my office to ensure significant reform across all areas of the organisation to provide a stable foundation for all necessary improvements and which allows the Force to function strategically but also enable it to deliver the policing service it knows it should - and which our residents want and need.

“My confidence in Chief Constable Catherine Roper’s ability to turn Wiltshire Police around has never wavered and I also thank her for her hard work, dedication and professionalism over the last 15 months – it has not been an easy path to tread.

“Her vision and leadership have meant changes are being delivered at pace within the force: a new chief officer group and taut command structure, essential strategic direction, streamlined management boards, a new performance framework and a focus on delivery of operational policing alongside emphasis on improvements to operational corporate governance.

“This has ensured Wiltshire Police is operating as it should - enabling, and empowering, the Force’s excellent officers, staff and volunteers to improve their operational performance across the board. We now need to ensure those operational improvements are sustained by improvements to our corporate support services.

“As a result, Wiltshire Police has been able to demonstrate to his Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) it is steadily and consistently improving its positive outcome rates against all crime types and is actively delivering the priorities and focus within my current police and crime plan – written after wide-ranging consultation with our communities when I was first elected.

“With my office now driving engagement and co-ordination with stakeholders to deliver under the Serious Violence Duty, Safer Streets, Clear Hold Build and ASB Hotspots projects, our support has enabled the Force to give a greater focus to operational delivery and enforcement in our communities.

“But the Chief and I are aware that being lifted from Engage is only half of the job and this is the first step on the Force’s improvement journey.

“We know there needs to be a greater effort to ensure the Force continues to deliver a policing service our communities and residents want - and not just the national agenda. We also know Wiltshire Police can further improve customer service, in general, and at the same time continuing to increase outcome rates and further drive down crime.

“My immediate goal now will be to update the police and crime plan – again informed by our communities – to set the strategic operational policing blueprint for the next four years and to re-double the collective efforts of my office and Wiltshire Police to deliver on our communities priorities and tackle the crimes that matter most to them.

“Being a police force in ‘Engage’ impacts significantly on whether we can regain the trust and confidence residents should have in Wiltshire Police and this was made very clear to me on the doorsteps during the recent election process.

“I hope this announcement will encourage our residents to press the reset button as they will really start to see the police service they want, and deserve, being delivered by Wiltshire Police and not just rely on their perceptions of a bygone force.

“Working together, we will continue making Wiltshire safer.”

Published Tuesday 21 May 2024

Read more from the HMICFRS

Wiltshire Police removed from enhanced monitoring - His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (justiceinspectorates.gov.uk)

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Wiltshire Police taken out of 'special measures' | Wiltshire Police