Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Commission Lead Dialogue on Safety, Visibility and Police Accountability

Young people in Wiltshire and Swindon want to see better engagement from Wiltshire Police, a greater uniformed presence on our streets and steps to be taken to make our city and town centres safer.

These are some of the key highlights from a Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Commission, (WSYC) survey which was presented to the Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, and senior Wiltshire Police officers at a specially held event summarising the work of the WSYC, which is run by Participation People, over the last year.

Over six hundred young people aged 11-25 from across the county responded to the survey, with the main concern being around knife crime, with questions also being asked about social media usage, mental health and things they thought the police did well and could do better.

Charlie is one of the members of the WSYC:

“I felt that the survey was received quite well because of the questions we had from the officers.

“I felt like the police officers wanted to engage with our presentation and they wanted a better understanding of what we'd put our efforts into.

“Now I want to see Wiltshire Police make changes based on recommendations and to keep us updated on the work they’re doing.”

The Youth Commissioners led conversations about how Wiltshire Police and other agencies could improve communications with young people, including the platforms and language they used.

In his closing speech, Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson spoke about the importance of the Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Commission in their role as a bridge between Wiltshire Police and younger members of our community:

“I was hugely impressed with clarity and confidence of our Youth Commissioners as they delivered a presentation which asked questions of us and led us to ask questions about how we could improve our performance.

“This presentation and these discussions are just the first step in the process. Now we need to ensure that further action is taken and this important body of work isn’t ignored or put on the back burner.

“By communicating more with young people in Wiltshire and making our communication with young people better, it will help to make them feel safer”

Ellie is one of the Youth Commissioners and she shares the Police and Crime Commissioner’s belief that improved communication will help to break down barriers:

“In some of the survey results there was perception of fear.

“We know that crime rates are lower in Wiltshire and Swindon, but people don't believe that, and the advertisement needs to be better.

“That advertisement is centred towards the adults of the world who have a better understanding.

“Targeting that language towards the younger generations will help them understand what's going on in life.”

Wiltshire Police’s head of local policing is Chief Superintendent Doug Downing:

“There were a number of suggestions made by the Youth Commissioners that I can look at immediately, including the platforms we use to engage with young people.

“There are also more deep routed issues where I’d like us to work more closely with the Youth Commission, and I’ll be taking steps to invite them to HQ so we can discuss.

“The Young Commissioners struck me as being confident, well researched and offered solutions as well as opinions.

“It’s important that we listen to them, take their suggestions on board and make positive changes to the way we do things.”

Published Monday 28 July 2025