I am pleased that the force’s response to missing and absent children has greatly improved since our 2015 inspection: officers and staff of all ranks and grades now have a better understanding of the risks associated with persistently missing children. The force has also improved the way it records its assessments of risk and the supervision of its investigations.
I am satisfied that the force has demonstrated a sound understanding of the current demands for its services and is able to match its resources to these demands. It is working to understand its future demand better. The force has assessed the capabilities of its workforce and is working to close the knowledge and skills gaps it has identified. Its approach to recruitment is an example of this: the force is actively recruiting people with the skills to work on the new demands that are likely to arise from societal and technical changes, such as internet crime. The force has removed some middle and senior police ranks, and is addressing skills gaps resulting from the new structure through a dedicated programme to nurture and develop talent.
The force has a strong track record of achieving cost savings and has invested effectively in technology. The widespread of introduction of mobile devices has enabled officers and staff to work away from police stations and spend more time with the public.
I am very impressed with the fair and respectful treatment of the workforce in Wiltshire Police and the standards of behaviour expected of those in leadership roles throughout the organisation, which are clearly understood by those at all ranks and grades. The force regularly uses a variety of approaches to seek the views of staff and officers, including internal surveys, face-to-face meetings, and the chief officer’s web chats. This feedback informs workforce development programmes, which are co-ordinated with the force’s recruitment and promotion procedures – all of which place a strong emphasis on improving the quality and capacity of leadership.
I would now like to see the force extend this innovation to how it seeks and uses feedback from the people of Wiltshire, and in particular those who may have less trust and confidence in the police.
In summary, I commend the force on the service it is providing to the people of Wiltshire, and I look forward to its continued progress over the coming year.
Context
Wiltshire Police provides policing services to the county of Wiltshire. There are areas of both deprivation and affluence in Wiltshire. The force area is home to around 0.7 million people, who live in a predominantly rural setting. Its numerous small urban areas include the city of Salisbury and the town of Swindon. The resident population is increased by the large numbers who visit or travel through the area each year. The transport infrastructure includes 118 miles of motorway and trunk roads.
The proportion of areas in Wiltshire that are predicted (on the basis of detailed economic and demographic analysis) to present a very high challenge to the police is very low compared to the national average. The most challenging areas are generally characterised by a high concentration of people living, working, socialising, or travelling in the area.
Features that both cause and/or indicate a concentration of people include the number of commercial premises, including licensed premises and fast-food premises, public transport, and social deprivation. In some areas, these features are combined.
Working arrangements
Wiltshire Police collaborates with Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Gloucestershire Constabulary on services including road network patrols, armed policing and dog support. The three forces have obtained a Police Innovation Fund grant from the Home Office to introduce a single information and communications technology infrastructure.
The force has embarked on a pilot programme of co-location with Wiltshire and Swindon councils, and it now has policing teams and front counters in town centre premises.
Looking ahead to 2017
In the year ahead, I will be interested to see how the force responds to this assessment and to the areas for improvement that HMIC identified last year.
I will be particularly interested to see how the force develops its communication with the people of Wiltshire, especially those who may have less confidence in the police.