Continued focus on proactive policing and making Salisbury safer this Christmas

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and Wiltshire Police are continuing their commitment to tackling retail crime and antisocial behaviour in Salisbury as part of the ongoing Winter of Action campaign.

This seasonal focus builds on the everyday, all-year-round work of Wiltshire Police’s neighbourhood policing teams and partners to keep the city safe and welcoming. 

Through Operation Dasher, officers have already carried out several deployments during the first two weeks of December, and this activity will continue in the run-up to Christmas and into the New Year. This includes high visibility patrols, including joint patrols with Salisbury BID in addition to community and business engagement. 

Four people have already been arrested because of Operation Dasher, including a prolific offender for going equipped with a foil lined bag, another for breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) and two others for shoplifting with one of those being charged, remanded and sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment.

As part of that commitment, local businesses have received Christmas cards from the recently launched Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP), which brings together the OPCC, police, Salisbury BID, local authorities and businesses, encouraging them to report crime and antisocial behaviour, a reminder that all reports are taken seriously and that no incident or theft is too minor to report. 

Police and Crime Commissioner Phil Wilkinson said: “Retail crime, antisocial behaviour and violence in the night time economy are issues we work on all year round and Winter of Action is about reinforcing that commitment during a time when our city is at its busiest. 

“By working with businesses through Salisbury BID and the BCRP with the support of Wiltshire Police’s neighbourhood teams, we’re making Salisbury safer and ensuring that those who both live in and visit the city have a safe festive season.” 

Inspector Tina Osborn, Salisbury Neighbourhood Policing Team, added:
“Neighbourhood officers are out every day engaging with businesses and the public. 

“Operation Dasher is about visibility and reassurance, but it’s also about prevention, making sure offenders know we’re here and that crime will not be tolerated.

“Salisbury is not an easy target for those committing crime in our city and we will work with our partners to ensure that those intent on causing harm are promptly and proactively dealt with. 

“We want everyone to enjoy Salisbury safely this Christmas.”

The mobile police station will be in and around Salisbury this week, providing a visible point for public engagement and advice. You can find the timings for this on the Your Area section of Wiltshire Police’s website. 

Report incidents:

For more information about the Salisbury BCRP and how to get involved, visit: Business Crime Reduction Partnership