Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 3 July 2026

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

This letter will primarily focus on a range of positive and proactive examples of policing and partnership, to provide reassurance to our communities that Wiltshire Police is listening to their concerns, and acting upon them. However, it is equally important that I am transparent and acknowledge where there has been a failure of duty. 

This week a Wiltshire Police officer was sentenced after assaulting a 13-year-old child while on duty in Chippenham.

The detail of the incident, and the subsequent independently led criminal process, is in the statement which is linked above. The officer's actions fell far short of the standards expected by the communities of Wiltshire and by Wiltshire Police. Such behaviour has no place within policing and does not reflect the values of our organisation, nor the dedication and professionalism demonstrated every day by the overwhelming majority of our officers, staff and volunteers.

I want to reassure our communities that Wiltshire Police is committed to taking robust action when wrongdoing occurs. It is essential that we maintain a transparent and accountable approach whenever individuals fail to meet the standards expected of them. Our communities rightly expect and deserve this, and we will continue to ensure that officers and staff are held to account, regardless of rank or role, in order to maintain public trust and confidence in policing. I will continue to be honest and open whenever these failures in public service occur with both yourself and our communities and partners.

This week is National Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week. On 1 April of this year, we launched our Anti-social Behaviour Action Plan, which clearly articulates our structured approach to prevention, early intervention, enforcement and partnership working. Our commitment to proactive and visible neighbourhood policing is also a golden thread throughout the action plan. 

Wiltshire Police continues to increase its visibility and engagement across our county, and particularly this week we have been focusing on our town centres, parks and open spaces where our communities gather to ensure people feel safe, respected and supported.

ASB is a significant concern for our communities. Tackling and preventing this remains a core focus for Wiltshire Police and is central to the delivery of my operational priority of ‘Safer Public Spaces’. However, this can only be achieved with the support of our communities and partners, and I am grateful that Wiltshire Police is supported by an extremely close relationship with both, and together we are working to robustly deal with this behaviour that can cause so much misery to others.

Recently published figures from your office for Wiltshire highlight continued progress in tackling ASB. Whilst there have been national changes in crime recording which means some ASB reports are now categorised as other crimes, and as a result Wiltshire Police has seen a slight increase in the recording of offences such as public order and criminal damage, ASB across the county has fallen by 6% over the past year, with 585 fewer incidents recorded (9,240 compared to 9,825 the previous year).

More importantly, community perceptions continue to improve. The proportion of residents who believe ASB is a problem in their local area has reduced from 10% to 6.8%, placing Wiltshire below the national comparator of 8.0%. This is a significant measure because it reflects how people feel about safety and quality of life in their communities. 

More people are telling us that they feel safer where they live, work and spend their leisure time and this positive result reflects the combined efforts of Wiltshire Police, your office, local authorities and community partners to prevent ASB, respond to concerns and create safer public spaces for everyone.

Partnership activity continues to expand and deliver positive outcomes. Initiatives such as the Taxi Marshal schemes in Swindon and Salisbury are reducing alcohol-related disorder and helping people return home safely, while programmes such as Premier League Kicks are providing young people with constructive opportunities, trusted role models and a positive alternative to anti-social behaviour.

Similarly, the Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP), launched in Salisbury, is already demonstrating its value. By bringing together retailers, local authorities, Wiltshire Police and your office to share intelligence and coordinate responses, the partnership is improving the collective response to retail crime and ASB. Early success has supported plans for wider rollout across the county.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) remain at the centre of this delivery. They provide the visible and accessible policing presence that communities expect, while working closely with partners to identify local issues, protect vulnerable individuals and prevent escalation. 

We continue to strengthen public engagement through the Your Area section of our website, ensuring residents can easily connect with their local officers, understand priorities and stay informed.

Whilst it is positive that overall ASB has reduced over the past 12 months, we do experience an increase in reporting during the summer months. Wiltshire Police will respond to this through targeted patrols, hotspot policing and continued neighbourhood engagement. I encourage our communities to continue to report any concerns, and we will work with partners to tackle them. 

However, I would also ask those people who are behaving in a way that causes upset to others to – simply – stop. Wiltshire Police will support and encourage everyone to enjoy our public spaces, however we will continue, with partners, to deal robustly with unacceptable behaviour. This can be evidenced by action already undertaken to tackle areas of concern.

The introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Swindon to address unauthorised car meets has resulted in a significant reduction in incidents, with only three reports recorded since implementation. This has addressed longstanding community concerns and improved safety across affected areas, including neighbouring communities. Alongside this success in Swindon, partnership working has supported the implementation and ongoing enforcement of PSPOs in Salisbury and Devizes, providing additional powers to tackle issues such as street drinking, disorder and nuisance behaviour that can have a significant impact on residents, visitors and local businesses. 

In Pewsey, officers carried out a thorough and determined investigation into a series of criminal damage offences affecting a number of vehicles, resulting in the arrest of two suspects. The enquiry involved extensive investigative work, including the review of CCTV and doorbell footage, public appeals for information, and proactive engagement with the local community. These arrests demonstrate the value of strong partnerships between the police and the public, and I would like to thank local residents for the information and support they provided, which played a significant role in progressing the investigation and helping us achieve this positive outcome.

In Swindon, a Closure Order at the Oasis site has prevented further incidents of trespassing and anti-social behaviour, highlighting the impact of early intervention and effective partnership working. By taking decisive, evidence-led action, officers and partner agencies have been able to address community concerns, protect the site, and improve the quality of life for local residents. 

Many of the issues that affect community confidence and feelings of safety can be linked to wider criminality, including drug-related offending and county lines activity. Tackling this criminality remains a key part of our wider approach to improving community safety and addressing local concerns.

During the latest phase of Operation Scorpion, Wiltshire Police made 36 arrests, disrupted 122 drug supply networks, seized over £47,000 in cash and removed eight dangerous weapons from Wiltshire. Activity included targeted patrols in known drug-dealing hotspots, enforcement action against premises linked to criminality, safeguarding visits to vulnerable people and high-visibility operations in town centres and the night-time economy. 

These results send a clear message that Wiltshire will not tolerate those seeking to profit from drugs, exploit vulnerable people and bring harm into our communities.

Our focus remains on delivering a balanced and effective response: reducing harm, addressing root causes and maintaining public confidence. Through strong neighbourhood policing, sustained partnership working and a shared commitment with your office and wider stakeholders, we are making meaningful progress.

We will continue to build on this momentum, ensuring that our communities across Wiltshire and Swindon feel safe, heard and supported.

Kindest regards to you,

Catherine Roper, 

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police