![]() |
||
|
||
|
||
Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 29 August 2025 |
||
Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, As the summer holidays draw to a close, I wanted to share an update on our continued efforts to tackle crimes impacting on our retail communities in both our urban and rural areas. As mentioned in my letter to you on August 1st, we traditionally see spikes in shoplifting and business crime over the summer months. In July, 415 shoplifting offences were reported and, although this was highest monthly figure for a year, we have also seen a corresponding increase in further action being taken against offenders. This has included an increase in Out of Court Resolutions (this outcome was used in 203 shoplifting offences in the 12 months to July), an increase in Further Action Taken (FAT) outcome rates for shoplifting (rising to 28.2% for the same period) and a decrease in the number of shoplifting cases being closed due to evidential difficulties. I would like to draw your attention to some recent court results relating to crimes against businesses across our county: Our Force Leads for retail crime, Inspector David Tippetts and Inspector Louise Oakley, hold monthly CBOs Panels in collaboration with partner agencies to ensure the earliest interventions against the most prolific offenders. CBOs replaced Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and prohibit the offender from doing anything outlined in the order which can include them being banned from certain shops or areas. We work closely with colleagues from Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council’s ASB and housing teams, the Integrated Offender Management Team, our Neighbourhood Harm Reduction Unit, probation service, Connect (Wiltshire’s drug and alcohol service), Mental Health Advisors, and the Youth Justice Service. As part of CBO conditions, positive requirements, such as rehabilitation, can be added to ensure the individual has the appropriate support in place to deter further criminality. In total, there are 20 CBOs in place across our Force area in Swindon, Melksham, Devizes, Trowbridge, Warminster and Salisbury. Business crime is not victimless. I understand that incidents such as theft and robbery can cause long-term impacts for retail workers such as fear, anxiety and unease in addition to the impacts on the business owners and associated costs inevitably passed onto the public. We are working ever closer with our partners to make our town centres safer, including having a relentless focus on tackling retail crime and ASB. Last Wednesday, the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) across Swindon town centre was launched by Swindon Borough Council. The PSPO gives officers from both the council and Wiltshire Police the legal authority to challenge and fine individuals who are engaging in disruptive or dangerous activities. This includes a ban on riding e-bikes and e-scooters in the designated area, alongside other restrictions such as street drinking, public urination and riding pedal bikes in a way that endangers pedestrians. I welcome the introduction of this order as it will support our Swindon Central South policing team in managing ASB offenders. The PSPO covers the Broadgreen area which will also support our continuing multi-agency Clear, Hold, Build initiative led by Swindon Borough Council. Clear, Hold, Build aims to tackle organised crime, drugs offences and ASB. Our communities can read more about the PSPO here. As part of the national Safer Streets Summer initiative which both our organisations are supporting, our officers and PCSOs are continuing to drive down ASB in our town centres by carrying out high visibility foot patrols. These are funded by the Home Office’s Anti-Social Behaviour Hotspot Fund, delivered via your office. Across July, we carried out the following activity in our hotspot locations of Swindon, Trowbridge, Chippenham, Devizes and Salisbury: This week, your office announced the launch of our most recent collaborative intervention with Swindon Borough Council – the provision of accredited taxi marshals in Swindon. The taxi marshals will patrol taxi pick-up locations in Old Town, Princes Street and Town Centre North from 10pm – 6am on Friday and Saturday nights from now until April 2026. These locations have been chosen based on intelligence suggesting they are hotspots for ASB, particularly during Friday and Saturday nights. This forms part of our ongoing commitment, under Project Vigilant, to keep people enjoying Swindon’s night-time economy safe and free from predatory behaviours. I truly believe that by investing in partnership collaborations and having higher visibility across our county, we are fostering more trust and confidence within our communities. This was exemplified last week when the Office of National Statistics (ONS) announced that 58% of people believe Wiltshire Police do an excellent or good job, which is above the national average of 49%. This puts Wiltshire Police at the third highest nationally, and the highest in the South West region. This is an increase from the 52% of people who believed we did an excellent or good job in 2024. I truly welcome this feedback and we will continue to further strengthen the bond of trust our communities have in us. Many of the updates I have provided to you today have a clear theme running through them – that we are committed to our mission of Keeping Wiltshire Safe. We will continue to deliver a policing service which enhances the safety of all our communities. Finally, across the weekend of August 16 and 17, commemorations were held across the county to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. I wanted to close this fortnight’s letter by publicly honouring the service and sacrifice of those who contributed to the final chapter of World War II. It is thanks to them that we enjoy our freedoms today. Kindest regards to you, Catherine Roper Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police | ||
Reply to this message | ||
|
|