Mere

Inspector Lou Oakley is the current Neighbourhood Inspector for Warminster, overseeing the Warminster Neighbourhood Policing Team which covers the areas of Warminster, Westbury, Mere and Tisbury. She has been in post for over 15 months and brings 19 years of policing experience to the role.

Lou began her career with Wiltshire Police in 2006 as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) and has since worked across a range of departments including response policing, neighbourhood policing, and the Public Support Unit (PSU), where she was trained to an advanced tactical level in public order and riot control.

Her passion lies in frontline policing and she is committed to identifying and addressing the root causes of criminality. Lou believes this approach plays a key role in building trust and confidence within local communities.

Recognising that policing is most effective when delivered in partnership, she works closely with other agencies to pursue long-term problem-solving strategies. Under her leadership, the team’s current priorities – based on community feedback, crime data and demand - include youth-related anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, and rural crime

Sergeant Lyndsey Smith began her policing career in 2004 after leaving the Armed Forces. Throughout her career, she has remained on the front line, working operationally across the south of the county, including roles in Marlborough, Tidworth, Salisbury, and Amesbury.

Promoted towards the end of 2023, Lyndsey joined the Warminster Neighbourhood Policing Team in January 2025. New to the role but bringing extensive experience, she is focused on strengthening partnerships and enhancing community engagement, with a particular emphasis on tackling anti-social behaviour and retail crime.

PC Georgina Russell brings over 13 years of diverse policing experience, including five years with Wiltshire Police.

Before joining Wiltshire, she served with both the Royal Military Police and the Ministry of Defence Police, gaining a solid foundation across a range of law enforcement environments.

Her career has included roles in frontline response and neighbourhood policing, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of community needs and the complexities of everyday policing.

Currently serving the Mere and Tisbury areas, PC Russell is dedicated to crime prevention and supporting rural communities. Recognising that these areas often face reduced police visibility and access, she is committed to finding effective ways to enhance safety, deter crime, and build trust within these more isolated parts of the county.