‘If Wiltshire Police was a school, we would be in special measures’, the police and crime commissioner has said – but he’s confident things are improving.
Philip Wilkinson told Wiltshire 999s that he believes the newly-appointed Chief Constable, Catherine Roper, can turn the force into one of the best performing in the country.
An inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) criticised many areas, including crime prevention, investigation and victim support.
After receiving an “inadequate” grading in relation to Wiltshire Police’s ability to respond to the public, protect vulnerable people and strategic planning, it was placed into the ‘Engage’ process.
Last week, PCC Wilkinson told us: “In July 2022, Wiltshire Police was put in the engage process. For those who don’t know what that is, if we were a school, we would have been put into special measures.
“That was partly a consequence of the fact that the previous regime had not invested where they needed to in Wiltshire Police force.
“Since that time, we have a new and outstanding chief constable, we have a new leadership team, we have new plans, policies, systems, procedures in place to take Wiltshire Police force not only out of the engage process but also to turn us into one of, if not the very best performing police force in the [country].
“That is all down to the enthusiasm, the determination and the sheer energy of our new Chief Constable and the team that she has built around her.
“They are now delivering and I can see statistically across my Police and Crime Plan that we are making huge strides forward in every one of those priorities.”
He added: “The challenge now that we face is not only to overcome the legacy of the previous regime, but it is not only to make the residents of Wiltshire safer, but we need to do that consistently and persistently so that the residents of Wiltshire feel safer as well as being safer.
“It is getting the combination of the two that will allow Wiltshire Police force to win the trust and confidence of the residents of Wiltshire, and that’s what we need to do.
“I want the residents of Wiltshire to feel proud of their police force and their police service. When I’ve accomplished that, then I will have accomplished my mission.”
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