Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

This week, Wiltshire Police has participated in a national campaign to raise awareness of the devastating impact caused by stalking, as part of our ongoing commitment to tackle violence, especially against women and girls (VAWG).

We would continue to encourage anyone who feels they may have been a victim of persistent or unwanted attention which makes them feel scared, distressed or threatened to report it to us, and always dial 999 if they feel at immediate risk or harm.

We recognise that it can take significant courage to report this type of abhorrent and criminal behaviour and whilst Wiltshire Police is here to listen, believe and act on any report made, there are other organisations such as FearFree and Victim Support which offer support to victims of stalking and harassment, as well as other crimes.

As part of National Stalking Awareness Week, we are proactively using our social media to share where support and help is available – and also to highlight ‘red flags’ which may be an indicator of concerning and criminal behaviour.

Project Vigilant continues to keep people safe in the nighttime economy through using intelligence to identify people who are displaying concerning behaviours, and stop predatory sex offenders who are looking to target women. We recently shared a video highlighting this work, you can view it here.

We have also introduced our Walk and Talk initiative which invites women aged 18 and over to share locations where they feel unsafe, and for us to go there with them to discuss what action may be undertaken to improve that area. The feedback we receive during these engagements is shared with our partners in the local authority to see what we can do as a collective to improve the safety of women. We would be pleased to hear from more women across the county who have identified somewhere they feel unsafe and who would like to get involved in this initiative. Please contact us at presshq@wiltshire.police.uk and title your email ‘Walk and Talk’.

Wiltshire Police has invested in further training and awareness with all officers and staff to improve their understanding of how a victim of stalking – and indeed any crime - can be best supported; how we can improve investigations into stalking, and how we can ensure we hold offenders to account for their actions. Additional training has also been provided to officers to increase applications for Stalking Protection Orders and identifying the digital elements of stalking through coordination with our Digital Investigations and Intelligence Unit. We also have dedicated officers who review all allegations of stalking on a daily basis to ensure that all investigative opportunities are maximised, and that the support to the victim is at the heart of everything we do.

Wiltshire Police is dedicated to the relentless pursuit of those people responsible for stalking and all VAWG offences. I would encourage our communities to please continue to report any crimes or behaviours of concern, against themselves or another – and we will act on the intelligence. I have included the links to our website for anyone who wishes to read more – and again, if anyone ever feels in immediate risk or harm, then always dial 999.

As part of its continued commitment to increase its visibility to rural communities, Wiltshire Police has commenced a focussed effort to support horse owners in both crime prevention and road safety.

I would like to thank the British Horse Society for their incredible generosity in donating tack stamping kits which our Neighbourhood Policing Teams, with support from the Neighbourhood Harm Reduction Unit, will continue to use during equestrian yard visits. These kits embed an individual code put onto tack which is then registered to a national online database and help identify the owner if it is ever stolen. This allows for more effective investigations into rural theft and the wider usage of them act as a deterrent to thieves.

Thanks to these kits, PCSOs from the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Royal Wootton Basset were able to mark more than 90 saddles and bridles during recent events. Anyone who would like to know more about this service can email their local Neighbourhood Policing Team and an officer will contact them. To find your team, visit the ‘Your Area’ section of the Wiltshire Police website.

This positive work will continue into Equine Week of Action and Operation Gallop which commence next week and will see officers engage with the equine community to combat theft and protect riders. In addition, policing teams will engage with road users directly and through social media posts to educate drivers on safety around horses. This will include specifically what to do if they encounter a horse on the road, how to pass the rider without creating fear or alarm and to emphasise the risks associated with unsafely passing horses.

Neighbourhood officers will attend stable yards to engage with residents, offer tack stamping and conduct rural patrols on byways. Operation Close Pass focuses on rider safety on the roads, promoting safe distances cars should keep away from horses, and the safe speeds drivers should maintain when passing horses. Officers will be visiting roads frequently used by the equine community to ensure that drivers are adhering to the correct road etiquette around horses. For more information about Operation Close Pass and Operation Gallop, visit our website here.

Our mobile police station will be visiting areas in Trowbridge and Melksham between April 28 and May 5 as part of this week of action – with the exact times and locations of these visits available to view on the meetings and events section of ‘Your Area’ and the Rural Crime Team’s social media page.

Additionally, officers will share advice on how to report driving offences caught using a dashcam. This is part of our ongoing Operation Snap which puts power into the public’s hands, allowing them to hold irresponsible drivers accountable to help make the roads safer for all. Last year we received 681 submissions from the public which led to 80 prosecutions. Further information about Operation Snap is available on our social media page here.

Online fraud is becoming more prominent than ever before and being aware of the risks associated with this type of crime is extremely important. An ActionFraud report detailing a sharp rise in people losing money through ticket sale fraud recently caught my attention, with people in Wiltshire losing more than £100k to fraudulent ticket scams in 2024. As we transition into summer, we are actively warning people to stay vigilant when buying tickets for concerts or events online.

We have shared advice on purchasing tickets to protect people from falling foul of these scammers and avoiding unnecessary disappointment and financial loss. Some recommendations include using a credit card when buying tickets to avoid bank transfer scams; ensuring email accounts used to buy tickets are secured with two-step verification; checking whether vendors are members of Society of Ticket Agents and exercising caution with adverts offering unbelievably good discounts. I would encourage anyone looking to buy tickets this year to read the information shared on our social media page.

Finally, I would like to thank my officers and partner agencies who recently responded to two separate calls to persons in need, saving two lives and ensuring the longer-term support was in place beyond the emergency. Both incidents were undoubtedly deeply distressing for those in crisis. I am glad my teams could provide the support where it was needed.

We will always be there for people in a moment of crisis. If ever someone feels they are struggling with their mental health, or you are worried someone needs immediate help, please pick up the phone and dial 999.

I would like to recognise the incredible support provided by our partners to people who are experiencing a moment of personal challenge. The Samaritans offer a free, 24/7 helpline on 116 123 and NHS mental health services can be reached by calling 111 and pressing option 2. I encourage our communities to always pick up a phone if they feel they or another needs help.

As I close this letter, I would just like to reflect once again on the strong partnerships and community engagement that exists in Wiltshire, as evidenced in this update to you. My policing teams could not do their essential work if it were not for the support of others – and as ever, I thank them all.

Kindest regards,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police