Police And Crime Plan For Wiltshire
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson has published his Police and Crime Plan with a focus on partnership, pro-activity and prevention.
It comes following the Office of the PCC (OPCC) receiving 128 responses to a consultation on a draft version of the plan.
The Police and Crime Plan will set the strategic direction of policing in Wiltshire and Swindon for the next four years. Mr Macpherson said:
“There is an underlying theme throughout the plan - partnership, pro-activity, prevention. This is key to me in helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in Wiltshire and Swindon. For example I want to strengthen neighbourhood policing by creating Safer Neighbourhood Teams, involving not just the police but other agencies, such as local authorities, and communities themselves, such as through the various ‘watch’ schemes.”
The plan focuses on working with communities and partners and is divided into six main sections:
Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour
Protect the most vulnerable in society
Put victims and witnesses first
Reduce offending and re-offending
Drive up standards of customer service
Ensure unfailing and timely response to calls for assistance
Other key initiatives within the plan include:
Greater police officer visibility, including more foot patrols, within our communities
Increasing the use of restorative justice where the victim is put at the centre of the justice process
The Commissioner and Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Pat Geenty hosting quarterly public meetings across the county where people can raise questions around policing performance in their area
Launching a £1 million innovation fund potentially in mid April - organisations that help reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and re-offending in Wiltshire and Swindon will be able to apply for funds. The £1 million will come from the Office of the PCC’s reserves
Reducing the current reoffending rate by commissioning services which support those leaving prison
Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Pat Geenty is now working on a delivery plan setting out how the Force will achieve the relevant priorities set in the Police and Crime Plan. Other organisations commissioned to provide services by Mr Macpherson will be required to produce similar delivery plans.
As part of the plan consultation process, Mr Macpherson held three workshops with the voluntary and community sector in Swindon, Salisbury and Trowbridge in January and February and he met with chamber of commerce groups. The Wiltshire Police and Crime Panel also gave its helpful recommendations to the Commissioner on the draft plan. The Commissioner has published on his website a detailed response, indicating areas where Panel suggestions have been taken on board.
Mr Macpherson would like to thank those who commented on the draft plan. Feedback included adding definitions, i.e. for anti-social behaviour, and more detail on particular points, such as an offer to write a short summary explaining the role of the Sexual Abuse Referral Centre. People also gave suggestions on initiatives, for example a body or person being set up to have a Neighbourhood Watch coordinating role.
Members of the public can read the final version of the Police and Crime Plan via the Commissioner’s website - www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk.
Printed copies of the plan will be sent to libraries in Wiltshire and Swindon to be kept as reference copies. Printed copies are also available on request by contacting the Office of the PCC on 01380 734022.