Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has reiterated the urgent call for residents to engage with the Use Your Voice: Budget and Precept 2026/27 survey.

PCC Philip Wilkinson took his proposed budget and precept increase in front of the Police and Crime Panel last week and received cross party indications of support ahead of the final vote next month.
 

He proposed £15 per year rise for a Band D property - just £1.25 per month - remains the maximum increase allowed without triggering a costly referendum. 

The Medium Term Financial strategy has been drafted to help close Wiltshire Police’s £4.6m funding gap for 2026/27, driven by rising operational costs including pay, fuel, utilities and essential equipment, alongside increasing crime complexity and demand.  

One week since opening, the PCC’s precept survey has received more than 600 responses. 

But this represents only around a quarter of the responses needed to reach statistical significance - the point at which the OPCC can say that community views reflect the population of Wiltshire and Swindon.

Key insights from current respondents include:
 

The PCC is encouraging significantly more residents to take part to ensure the results demonstrate a genuinely representative picture across the county.
 

Despite being one of England’s lowest‑funded forces per head of population, Wiltshire Police continues to improve performance with more visible officers, faster response times and better justice outcomes  - progress Mr Wilkinson warns cannot be sustained without sufficient funding. 

He has again stressed that a smaller or zero increase would put frontline services at risk, while a larger rise would require a referendum that diverts money away from policing. All internal savings are already being squeezed, with further efficiencies identified through workforce redesign, technology improvements and rationalisation of the police estate.

Both the PCC and the Chief Constable have guaranteed police officer numbers will not be reduced as part of the 2026/27 budget proposals and has emphasised that decisions made now will shape the resilience and capability of the force well beyond 2028, particularly as Government plans to replace PCCs with new regional arrangements progress. 

Mr Wilkinson is urging every resident - whether supportive, unsure or opposed - to take part in the consultation.
 

He said: “Without reform to the funding formula or a precept rise, services will suffer. Your views genuinely help shape the future of policing in Wiltshire.” 
 

The Use Your Voice: Budget and Precept 2026/27 survey remains open, and the OPCC is particularly encouraging participation from younger age groups, under‑represented communities and those living in rural areas to ensure a balanced response.
 

Take part in the survey today and help shape the future of policing in Wiltshire. Complete the survey here: 
https://bit.ly/PreceptConsultation2026