Volunteers recognised for keeping policing accountable across Wiltshire and Swindon
Volunteers who independently examine how police powers are used, how detainees are treated and how decisions are made have been thanked for helping to hold policing in Wiltshire and Swindon to account.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) brought together volunteers at Wiltshire Police Headquarters in Devizes on Wednesday (12 August) for an event recognising the time and expertise they give to public oversight of policing.
The volunteers' work ranges from making unannounced visits to police custody suites and examining officers' use of powers to checking the welfare of police dogs and scrutinising governance, financial controls and misconduct proceedings.
Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson told those attending that independent scrutiny was an important part of policing by consent, giving members of the public an opportunity to question practices, identify improvements and provide reassurance when standards are being met.
Mr Wilkinson said:
“Public scrutiny is an essential part of policing by consent. It is important that people from outside policing are able to ask questions, challenge where necessary and provide an independent view of the way policing is delivered.
“Our volunteers give us their time, but they also bring their own experiences, skills and perspectives. That independent voice helps us identify where things can be improved, provides reassurance where things are being done well and, ultimately, helps strengthen public confidence in policing.”
Among those recognised were Wiltshire's 15 Independent Custody Visitors, who make unannounced visits to police custody suites to examine the conditions in which people are being held and check on their treatment and welfare.
Over the past year they made 96 visits, checking on approximately 350 detainees and contributing around 160 hours of their time. Five new volunteers joined the scheme during the year.
Four volunteers involved in Wiltshire's Animal Welfare Scheme were also recognised. The scheme provides independent oversight of the treatment of police dogs, with volunteers visiting kennels, vehicles and training facilities. Six visits took place during the year, amounting to around 30 hours of volunteering.
Another 51 members of the public sit on Community Scrutiny Panels, examining body-worn video footage of incidents involving powers including stop and search and the use of Taser, PAVA spray and batons, as well as out-of-court resolutions.
Seventeen panels took place between June 2025 and June 2026, scrutinising eight different areas of policing. Feedback can be used to inform training or passed back to individual officers through their command structure.
Independent oversight also extends to the way Wiltshire Police and the OPCC are governed. Five members of the Joint Independent Governance and Risk Audit Committee provide scrutiny of areas including finance, risk, audit, procurement and integrity, as well as challenging both organisations over the effectiveness of their governance arrangements.
Independent Panel Members and Legally Qualified Persons also bring outside expertise to police misconduct proceedings. Twenty trained members and advisers supported eight complex cases over the past year, contributing 118 hours across 24 hearing days.
The Police and Crime Commissioner said the different roles demonstrated how members of the public could have a direct part in scrutinising policing.
“Whether someone is visiting a custody suite, reviewing body-worn video or asking difficult questions about how decisions are made, that willingness to look closely at what we do and tell us what they think is incredibly valuable,” he said.
“These volunteers give their time because they care about how policing is delivered in their communities. We should never take that commitment for granted.
“I want to thank every one of them for the time, expertise and independent challenge they provide to policing across Wiltshire and Swindon.”
