Wiltshire PEEL 2014

The crime inspection found that Wiltshire Police is committed to crime reduction and victim satisfaction. It understands the contribution made to public confidence.

The force uses a range of proactive and reactive tactics to reduce and prevent crime using partners, neighbourhood officers and investigators.

The force has strong relationships with other local organisations. It is committed to these relationships, including a programme of work to share buildings and redesign services. Examples include improved speed of information sharing for anti-social behaviour, crime and emerging community issues.

Wiltshire Police protects those most at risk. It has good processes in place to identify vulnerable and repeat victims, with resources being deployed in accordance with victim needs and victim care being a key priority.

The force is committed, through investment of staff and a shared understanding, to a partnership approach to prevent and detect crime through integrated offender management, and has introduced a risk-based assessment programme to manage offenders.

The force provides some learning and development for the workforce to improve its investigative skills.

There is a clear commitment to anti-social behaviour which includes dedicated teams that are recognised for their good practice.

The anti-social behaviour risk assessment conference process is in place and working well across the force: this is now also developing ways to identify and support troubled families.

The force engages well with hard to reach communities to uncover hidden crime and tackle anti-social behaviour.

The domestic abuse inspection found effective work was being done to tackle domestic abuse, however there were several areas for improvement which needed addressing. The inspection found that officers and staff needed further training to understand elements of abuse other than physical assault. Also an increasing workload for staff in specialist teams meant that there was little opportunity to review risk levels and check on victims’ welfare.

The crime inspection found evidence that Wiltshire Police had made progress to improve its response to domestic abuse. The inspection also reviewed Wiltshire’s domestic abuse action plan and found an action plan had been submitted outlining activity which was in line with the agreed national priorities for forces to improve their response to domestic abuse. The plan incorporated the HMIC force report recommendations and those identified from another relevant review.

The crime inspection found that the dedicated team with responsibility for organised crime groups engaged neighbourhood teams regularly; and that neighbourhood teams were aware of their responsibilities for gathering intelligence and disrupting organised crime groups. Wiltshire Police had employed two officers to focus on child sexual exploitation following collaboration with Avon and Somerset Constabulary that highlighted the growing risks from this type of crime.

The Strategic Policing Requirement inspection found that the chief constable understood his role as specified in the Strategic Policing Requirement. Wiltshire Police had assessed the scale and nature of the terrorism, civil emergency, serious organised crime and public disorder threats, but not that of a large-scale cyber incident. This had enabled the force to identify how much resource it needs to manage and respond to these threats with the exception of a large-scale cyber incident. Public order has a nationally agreed requirement for resources and Wiltshire is able to provide the necessary agreed amount.

The inspection found that Wiltshire had the necessary capability, alone or with other forces, to tackle terrorism, civil emergency, serious organised crime and public disorder but not a large-scale cyber incident.

Wiltshire was able to operate effectively with other police forces and emergency services to respond to public disorder and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents.

Connectivity with other forces was effective for responding to terrorism, civil emergency, serious organised crime and public disorder, but not large-scale cyber incidents.