Fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 26 April 2024

Fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 26 April 2024

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

Yesterday, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) released our recorded crime data up to December 2023 which shows significant reductions in the areas I established as our operational priorities – Violence, Burglary and Safer Public Spaces.

To illustrate this under these priorities - which underpin your Police and Crime Plan - the data shows:

• A 15 per cent drop in violence causing injury
• A 15 per cent drop in burglaries
• A 12 per cent drop in public order offences.

The latest data shows Wiltshire Police has the lowest level of recorded crime per person in England and Wales.

These statistics reflect the hard work and renewed focus of Wiltshire Police as part of our collective effort to transform the organisation to best serve our communities. We will not, however, become complacent and I have been clear that we need to ensure our improvements are sustainable.

An area of concern flagged within the ONS statistics is a 35 per cent increase in shoplifting which, although is below the national increase of 37 per cent, is an area you and I have committed more focus and resource.

This week, we have also marked National Stalking Awareness week across the organisation with a focus on the importance of multi-agency working to better protect victims of stalking.

Stalking and harassment accounts for nearly half of recorded crime which falls within the definition of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) with one in five women experiencing stalking in their lifetime and, on average, a victim will encounter 100 incidents before reporting it to the authorities. 

Throughout the week, we have delivered a series of updates to officers and staff about signs to spot and the tools available to support victims, such as Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs).

I would encourage anyone who is concerned about stalking to talk to us. If someone does not feel ready to speak to the police, they can access support from the National Stalking Helpline. 

We’ve seen a variety of operational successes this week, which include:

• Following reports of drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in a property in Amesbury, officers secured a three-month extension to a partial closure order. The application was submitted by the local Neighbourhood Policing team and supported by the relevant Housing Association. This is an excellent example of how powerful information from our communities can be and I hope is evidence that, when something is reported, your Neighbourhood Policing Team will take action.
• An offender received an 18-month custodial sentence following a burglary in Salisbury in October. The offender entered the home of an elderly woman and stole £80,000 worth of personal items. This investigation was led by our dedicated Burglary Unit who carried out extensive enquiries to secure this conviction. In court, the victim bravely read out a personal impact statement where she described the horror and heartbreak she felt upon discovering the burglary and the feelings of vulnerability she felt in the weeks after. Burglary is an abhorrent crime and can significantly affect the feeling of safety which is why it remains one of my operational priorities 
• Following the stabbing of two teenagers in November 2023, a teenager was sentenced to a six-month curfew and banned from entering Royal Wootton Bassett and Marlborough for three months. The 17-year-old pleaded guilty following the unprovoked attacks. I have spoken in my previous letters to you about the concerning rise in violence we are seeing in the county, particularly involving young people. I can assure you, and our communities, that we will continue to use the full extent of our policing powers to protect the public, including the use of powers such as Section 60 (police powers to stop and search without needing reasonable grounds), and Section 35 (police powers to disperse and exclude persons from an area).

It would be remiss of me not to mention two issues debated nationally this week which are hugely relevant to the police service.

Firstly, Monday marked 31 years since Stephen Lawrence, 18, was brutally murdered in an unprovoked and racist attack. His murder marked a watershed moment in policing – with the subsequent Macpherson review highlighting significant failings and issues around trust and confidence between the police and the Black communities. These discussions are still as relevant today and we must do more to win back this trust. I am determined that in Wiltshire, our policing approach will be fair and inclusive and that we will treat everyone with respect and dignity, without fear or favour.

Also, this week, the mother of Barnaby Webber, one of three people murdered in Nottingham last June, wrote an open letter to the police after it transpired officers there posted graphic details of the three victims’ injuries in a work WhatsApp group chat.

This tragic case provides another sobering example of where the public are rightly appalled by the lack of compassion and professionalism displayed by some working within the police. I will never accept this behaviour in Wiltshire Police and will root out anyone who behaves this way. We must always have victims of crime at the forefront of everything we do. This, of course, translates to our use of WhatsApp and other messaging platforms. Not only should we be preserving the integrity of every case, but we must also treat all victims and their families with the empathy, kindness and dignity they all deserve.

In closing, last Monday I hosted my regular Facebook live event with Deputy Chief Constable Craig Dibdin. We had a great variety of questions and I truly value this personal engagement with our local communities. People who may have missed it can watch back on the Wiltshire Police Facebook page and I very much look forward to the next event in a few months’ time.

Kindest regards,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police