The Police and Crime
Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon has reaffirmed his commitment to
protecting the public and frontline community policing in his final term.
Earlier this year, Angus Macpherson announced he would be staying on as
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Wiltshire and Swindon following the
Government's decision to postpone PCC elections until 2021.
As a result, Angus has refreshed
his Police and Crime Plan to set a clear, strategic direction for
Wiltshire Police and provide the communities of Wiltshire and Swindon
reassurance that they will continue to receive excellent policing services.
The areas of focus within the plan, which have been emphasised in the
refresh, include protecting the public by increasing and safeguarding
community policing assets and ensuring that new resources are prioritised for
use within our neighbourhoods, focusing more on protecting our rural
communities and ensuring our communities are fully engaged and listened to.
The overarching priorities remain as follows:
- Priority One - Prevent crime and keep people safe
- Priority Two - Protect the most vulnerable people in
society
- Priority Three - Put victims, witnesses and
communities at the heart of everything we do
- Priority Four - Secure a quality police service that
is trusted and efficient.
Angus said: "At
the heart of everything we do must be the community that we serve so I wanted
to fully demonstrate my commitment to local policing by ensuring that
Wiltshire Police protects frontline community police officer and Police
Community Support Officer (PCSO) numbers.
"My commitment has been supported by our community through increases in
local council tax.
"At the end of 2018/19, Wiltshire Police had 934 police officers and 131
PCSOs. In 2019/20 the precept increase supported an additional 41 police
officers whilst protecting PCSO numbers.
"With both national funding and local precept increases police officer
numbers will increase to 1,050 and PCSOs will continue to be protected for
2020/21.
"Local policing will see the majority of this increase with 72
additional officers in place by March 2021.
"Engaging with our communities must remain another focus for me, my
office and Wiltshire Police - now more than ever as we continue to navigate
through the global COVID-19 pandemic.
"I want our communities to know we are here to listen and to help with
regards to all aspects of the criminal justice system.
"I am elected to represent the public's views on policing so
communicating and engaging with our local communities, service users, the
vulnerable and victims of crime, community groups, partners and other
stakeholders is an important part of my role and informs me in delivering my
role.
"My updated plan also includes greater emphasis on protecting children
and young people from harm. We all have a responsibility to ensure those who
might not have a voice for themselves are protected and safeguarded at all
times.
"It is also important that our police estate and buildings are able to
support 21 Century policing which is why I have commissioned a new
sustainability strategy to understand and reduce our impact upon the
environment.
"To help deliver this refreshed plan, I have made the decision to extend
Chief Constable Kier Pritchard's contract up to December 2023.
"Mr. Pritchard has done an excellent job in the face of a number of
unprecedented demands on our police service and his leadership has been
outstanding. I am confident that he, alongside his executive leadership team,
will continue to build on the great work being done in the Force and focus on
the priorities in my plan. I look forward to working with him throughout my
final year."
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