Wiltshire Constabulary
Encyclopedia
Wiltshire Police, formerly known as the Wiltshire Constabulary, is the territorial police force
responsible for policing Wiltshire
and Swindon
in the south-west of England
.
The Municipal Corporations Act 1835
meant that Salisbury Borough was formed and was required to have an official city force, that would replace the local force: New Sarum Police. The Salisbury City Police
was founded in 1836 and continued to operate separately from Wiltshire Police until World War II
when the two were temporarily amalgamated, however after the war ended the separation never occurred and Salisbury City Police ceased to exist. The official handover took place on 1 April 1943.
Later, in 1839 several groups of labourers rioted in many parts of the county over the price of food and the introduction of new farm equipment that was taking their jobs, they started fires and destroyed the farm equipment. In response to the 225 incidents, residents of Wiltshire called for the formation of a police force similar to Robert Peel
s Metropolitan Police
force, whose 'A' division had visited in 1836 to help control riots. When the County Police Act 1839
was introduced Wiltshire leapt at the chance to form a police force. As a result Wiltshire Constabulary was established on Wednesday 13 November 1839 at The Bear Hotel, Devizes and was the first county police force to be formed, beating Gloucestershire by a few hours.
The first Chief Constable was Captain Samuel Meredith RN who placed an advertisement in the local paper to recruit 200 constables who were paid 17/6d a week. New Constables were given their uniform and an instruction booklet and then sent off to work without any training or guidance, it wasn't until 1843 (and later 1855) that they were given training. Wiltshire Constabulary started operating from January 1840 and had filled all most all its posts by summertime. The Chief Constable spent the first months of his time visiting all the boroughs in Wiltshire, spending almost all his £400 salary on travel. The first ranks were only Constable and Superintendent, but Sergeant, Inspector, Detectives and five classes of Constable were later introduced.
Its motto, Primus et Optimus, means "the First and the Best".
Notable events for Wiltshire Police include the Rode Hill House Murder in 1860, the bomb explosion outside the Salisbury Guildhall in September 1884, the Trowbridge Christmas Eve murder in 1925 and escorting Louis Blériot
when displaying his famous cross-channel airplane.
Twice in the 1980s Wiltshire Police officers had to cover for the prison officer
s of Erlestoke Prison when they went on strike. In 1985, the force was involved in the Battle of the Beanfield
, which prevented a convoy of new age travellers
, known as the Peace Convoy, from establishing the fourteenth Stonehenge free festival
at Stonehenge
. The incident led to accusations of a police riot
. The police also had to deal with the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp
who were protesting against nuclear weapons being kept in Greenham Common. Most significantly the 1980s saw the introduction of the Police National Computer
, Command and Control systems and HOLMES
investigation system. Also a national probationary training programme was introduced in all forces for new recruits.
In January 2008, Brian Moore
was appointed as Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police. He took over following the departure of Martin Richards
, who transferred to become Chief Constable of Sussex Police
on 1 October 2007.
The Deputy Chief Constable
is former Wiltshire Assistant Chief Patrick Geenty. The Assistant Chief Constable
is former Detective Chief Superintendent and Divisional Commander James Veale.
s, D division in Swindon, and E Division for Wiltshire
County. Both divisions are headed by a Chief Superintendent
.
This situation remained until 1936 when three Detective Constables were recruited and a Detective Sergeant. And it wasn't until 1939 that an official head of the department was appointed, and a Detective Sergeant was appointed to take charge of new equipment such as Photographic, Printing and Fingerprinting departments. That same year the department acquired its first vehicle- an Austin
saloon car.
CID remained stagnant in its development until after the war, after which it slowly expanded, and in 1997 it had 170 detectives.
which has 3 junctions, as well as many other 'A' roads including the A346, A338, A36
, A303, A361, A350, A420
, A419, A429
and A4. It was founded on 7 May 1939 at the urging of the Home Secretary.
s. The unit was featured on Channel 5's Emergency Bikers in Series 2 where they escorted a Hercules from Wootton Bassett
towards Somerset.
Motorcycle officers are exempt from wearing body armour as they have to wear motorcycle leathers.
. It also obtains any intelligence on smuggling and contraband.
Ports in Wiltshire include Old Sarum Airfield
, Clench Common Airfield and Redlands Airfield
.
s, handled by 12 officers - 11 are general purpose dogs, 3 explosive search dogs, 3 drugs search dogs, 3 Conflict management dogs and 2 passive drugs dog. The dogs are mostly donated from the public or RSPCA, or purchased, and are trained at the headquarters. They usually serve until they are 8 years old, receiving refresher training every year, and then living with their handler after retirement. The Dog Section is based at the headquarters in Devizes
.
guns. The use of tasers has increased since their introduction in 2004. They were used 3 times a month in 2009 compared to once a month in 2006 but overall they have only been drawn 54 times between 2004 and 2009, of which 27 were not fired, merely aimed.
and an Aérospatiale Gazelle
, but later chose a Bolkow 105 in 1990, which was used for 7 years. After 6 years of service the Chief Constable received the news that the Bolkow was becoming outdated and a replacement had to be found. After Explorer demonstrated their MD-902 helicopter at the HQ their helicopter was chosen and deployed later the next year, where it is since in service today.
Wiltshire Police share the McDonnell Douglas 902 Explorer helicopter with the Great Western Ambulance Service
, an arrangement that is seen in only one other area of the country. Its ambulance call sign is 'Helimed 65' and its police call sign is 'Whiskey Hotel 99'.
The helicopter is operational from 0800 hrs to 0300 hrs all year round. It is staffed by three pilots, four observers and six paramedics, one of each always flies with the helicopter. The Air Support Unit is based at the headquarters in Devizes where a purpose built hangar was built in 1993.
raised concerns over the lack of a mounted division
in the force. And as a result 6 constables were transferred to the new mounted division, this later doubled to 12 the next year. Although the mounted division wasn't active every day, they were of particular use at the Salisbury Races, and ceremonial duties such as escorting Judges and guarding the Royal carriage. They were also occasionally loaned to neighbouring forces. Unfortunately the fate of the Mounted Division is unknown, but it is most likely it was ended during the introduction of motor vehicles in the 1920s.
Over 60 years passed until mounted police were used again, in 1988 Wiltshire Police borrowed the Mounted Division of the City of London Police
for a Swindon Town football match.
, but were historically looked down on as 'hobby bobbies'.
After going through a period of 'neglect' during the 1990s and early 2000s, the National Policing Improvement Agency
implemented the national strategy for Specials recruitment, training and development. After setting targets to recruit 100 specials a year, Wiltshire's Special Constabulary
currently has roughly 310 officers and is still recruiting. The selection process lasts up to six months. The training programme is another six months and takes place at headquarters in Devizes. All Special Constables are required to complete a two year probationary period.
celebrations that take place every year at Avebury
and the associated sites such as Stonehenge
and Silbury Hill
.
in Wiltshire is host to the repatriations of fallen service men and women who have died in Afghanistan
and Iraq
. The bodies are brought through the town from RAF Lyneham
on their way to the John Radcliffe Hospital
. Wiltshire Police are responsible for policing the crowds and any special events.
Officers from Wootton Bassett station received a special award at the Jane's Police Awards for their contribution to policing the repatriations. Police were again praised for policing the 'Ride for Respect' in March 2010, the operation included planning, marshalling and policing the crowd and 22,000 participants. The event which is attended by The Royal British Legion Riders Branch
will be repeated in April 2011.
since the 1970s. Nick Lowles the author of Hooligans 2: The M–Z of Britain's Football Hooligan Gangs, has said "If you look at Swindon, the police have been very proactive in the last five years in terms of stopping hooliganism".
Swindon Town has imposed Banning Orders on those supporters who cause disruption, criminal damage or are violent when attending games. There were 29 banning orders in place in 2006, which was an increase from a total of 11 in 2005. The increase in banning orders has resulted in a reduction of arrests at games, with only 22 people being arrested attending games in 2005–06 compared to 39 arrests in 2004–05. Of the 22 arrests in 2005–06; 11 were for Public Disorder, 5 for violent disorder
and the rest were made up of offences relating to missile throwing, racist chanting, pitch invasion, alcohol related offences and one incident of being in possession of an offensive weapon. 33 Swindon fans were also banned from travelling to the 2006 FIFA World Cup
.
, were it has always been based because of its geographical position in the centre of Wiltshire
.
The operational headquarters of Wiltshire Police is based at Melksham
for county division and Gablecross for Swindon division.
The emergency communications centres for Wiltshire Police are based at Devizes and Gablecross. The SNEN non-emergency call centre is based at Devizes. Devizes is also the airbase for the Wiltshire Police/Air Ambulance helicopter
, the base of Wiltshire Police Dog Squad
and the training facilities for all new recruits.
Wiltshire Police's headquarters used to be on Bath Road in Devizes, formerly the Wiltshire Militia Stores it was acquired in 1879 by Wiltshire Police as their headquarters. Nearby was row of houses where seniors officer lived. The building has since been demolished. Wiltshire Police remained at this site for 85 years until the early 1960s when the organization required a larger headquarters and the new building was commissioned on the London Road site, which was officially opened in 1964. And extension was added in 1970's.
The 'Old Town' police station at Eastcott Hill in Swindon was also too small for the expanding organization and was demolished in 1973. The 'D Division' of Swindon was moved to a purpose built building in the centre of Swindon.
Wiltshire Police has 24 stations
across the county: 1 in Swindon
division, Plus 3 police posts, North Swindon
, West Swindon and Swindon Centre, and 21 in county division, Cricklade
, Wootton Bassett
, Calne
, Malmesbury
, Chippenham
, Corsham
, Melksham
, Bradford on Avon
, Trowbridge
, Westbury
, Warminster
, Tisbury
, Mere
, Devizes
, Wilton
, Alderbury
, Salisbury
, Amesbury
, Tidworth
, Pewsey
and Marlborough. There is also 1 police post at Le Delamere motorway services on the M4.
in the rose style with a Brunswick star
that reads 'Wiltshire Constabulary' for foot patrol, a peaked cap for when on mobile patrol in vehicles, and a white peaked cap for traffic officer
s. Female officers wear a bowler hat, or a white bowler hat for traffic officer
s.
s, just the rank
and collar number
.
Formal dress comprises an open-necked tunic, with white shirt/blouse and tie/cravat. Constable
s and Sergeant
s wear custodian helmet
's and collar numbers on their epaulette
s, all higher ranked officers wear peaked caps, name badges and their rank on their epaulettes. The No.1 uniform is accompanied by black boots or shoes and occasionally black gloves, or brown gloves for the rank of Inspector and above.
digital radios, HTC PDAs, Hiatt
rigid handcuffs, PAVA incapacitant spray
, the ASP
21" collapsible baton, leg restraints, a resuscitation mask and a basic first aid kit. PCSO's don't carry ASPs, handcuffs, leg restraints or PAVA.
Should they be required to, some Wiltshire officers can use body-mounted cameras.
Police vehicles contain a variety of equipment, which can include Arnold batons, traffic cone
s, road signs, breathalyzer
s, stingers
, speed guns and more.
Wiltshire Police are the first to give every officer a PDA and personal computer under a £3 million pound venture to make the police more efficient by reducing paperwork and keeping officers on the streets instead of at the police station. Their equipment allows them to write and submit electronic reports wirelessly, to take pictures of crime or criminals and submit them to nearby officers and to receive emails or reports on local crimes, criminals and collisions that they are attending.
. For everyday patrol cars Wiltshire Police use Honda
Accords
, Ford Focus Estates, and Toyota iQs
, Aygos
and Auris
for NPT cars
.
Wiltshire Police have a wide variety of vehicles that are utilised by Specialist Divisions. The Roads Policing Units utilises BMW
5 Series Touring
, and a Lexus
GS450h as their liveried patrol cars. Armed Response Vehicles are BMW
X5s
.
With regards to vans, for duties such as custody transportation, they use Ford Transits
, and Iveco
Dailys
. And Peugeot
Experts
with dog cages for the Dog Section
.
Due to Honda
being based in Swindon
, Wiltshire Police have a contract with them to supply Honda
Civics
and Honda
Accords
to the force for civilian and duty purposes. Wiltshire Police also have a contract with BMW
.
, which only have markings on the back and front, and read 'Neighbourhood Policing Team' on the side. The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust have permission to use full police markings on their workshop vans, with 'The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust' written on the side.
Wiltshire Police stopped using the 'jam sandwich' police car markings between 2000 and 2005 when battenburg markings
were invented.
, but this was independent and ceased to exist after Wiltshire Police was formed. From 1839 - 2005 police in Wiltshire were called 'Wiltshire Constabulary'. To make the police more accessible it was renamed 'Wiltshire Police'. 'Wiltshire Constabulary' still appears on the forces crest, police livery, police helmets and caps but no longer on press releases, signs and stationary.
s, 147 are Police Community Support Officers, 150 are Control Room Operators and Call Handlers, and 593 are civilian staff. Of the 350 volunteers, 80 are Police Support Volunteers and 270 are Special Constables.
Wiltshire
Police
currently is not recruiting Constables, PCSOs, transferred officers, civilian staff or control room operators due to budget cuts
. They are only hiring for roles that need to be filled.
Wiltshire Police is recruiting people for voluntary roles. Their Police Support Volunteer
scheme has doubled in size over the past year, they now have 80 PSV
s. Their Special Constabulary
has increased since 2009, with targets of recruiting a total of 300 'Specials' reached in early 2011.
Training for new recruits in Wiltshire is held at the Headquarters in Devizes
. For Constable
s it consists of eight months' training and a two-year probationary period. For PCSO
s it consists of 18 weeks' training and a 15-weeks probationary period. For Special Constable
s it consists of 7 months of training during weeknights and weekends, and a mandatory two-year probationary period.
Recruits receive their warrant card
and uniform in the first two months of training.
Once the training period is over, the new officers are posted in a local division.
where information is shared instantly between the three. The project also oversees the sharing of the Wiltshire Police Helicopter/Air Ambulance
.
Wiltshire Police also have a favourable public image with the 2nd best in the UK for the public perceptions that police are dealing with anti-social behaviour
effectively, and 3rd best in the UK for the public perceptions that police are dealing with drunk and disorderly behaviour effectively.
Drink driving in Wiltshire has been highlighted as a problem in the National Summer 2010 Drink Drive Campaign that saw 2.87% of 3377 positive for drink driving in June 2010. However this is a drop of 3.53% from 2009.
marked Wiltshire Police as 1 out of 10 forces that were graded as being 'excellent' and improving on reducing crime, and 'fair' at protecting citizens from serious harm and 'fair' for confidence and satisfaction. Wiltshire was also 1 of 13 forces that is classed as 'good' for local policing and was 1 of 13 forces that received no 'poor' grade in any category.
In the same 2007/8 period Wiltshire Police received 234 complaints and 460 allegations. Wiltshire has an above average 358 allegations per 100 officers, spread across five categories. Wiltshire Police are 1% or 0% lower on allegations except for 'Incivility, Impoliteness and Intolerance' for which they receive 10% less allegations than the national average.
And of the 460, 26% were investigated, 43% came to a resolution and 31% were withdrawn, dispensed with or discontinued. Of the 26% allegations investigated in 2007/8 91% were unsubstantiated, 2% higher than the national average.
after being found asleep in her car, for failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis. The custody officer in Melksham police station, Sergeant Mark Andrews was accused of assaulting Ms Somerville during her detention, including dragging her through the custody suite and dropping her onto the concrete floor of a detention cell.
Sgt Mark Andrews was found guilty of actual bodily harm
and was sentenced to six months in prison
and faced dismissal from the police force. Wiltshire Police respected the decision made by Oxford Magistrates Court and apologised to Ms Somerville.
On 14 September 2010 Sgt Andrews was bailed after serving only 6 days of his sentence pending an appeal against his conviction to be held at Oxford Crown court in November 2010.
On Thursday 18 November 2010 Sgt Andrews was cleared of any wrong doing with regards to the allegation of assault in Melksham Custody against Somerville. Sgt Andrews claimed that Pamela Somerville had grabbed hold of the door frame of the cell and on letting go she had fallen to the floor. Mr Justice Bean declared Somerville was drunk when she was put in the cells and he believed that Sgt Andrews did not intend to throw her to the floor.
. This has nine councillor members, who are appointed from Wiltshire Council
and Swindon Borough Council, and eight independent members, one of whom is a justice of the peace
. The responsible government department is the Home Office
.
If the Government
continues its plans to introduce an elected Police Commissioner
into every police force, then the Wiltshire Police Authority will be scrapped.
announced plans to reduce the number of police forces in the UK from 42 to 24 in an attempt to save money. The plans were abandoned later that year due to lack of funding for the mergers, however the idea has resurfaced many times.
The proposed idea would see Wiltshire Police merge with Gloucestershire Constabulary
, Devon and Cornwall Police, Avon and Somerset Constabulary
and Dorset Police
to form a 'super police force'.
The plans have been publicly criticised by all the involved forces, stating that it would lead to poor quality service and a reduction in local policing.
' and 'Brit Cops: Frontline Crime
', the show usually follows officers in Salisbury
or Swindon
. The show is often repeated on Virgin 1
.
Wiltshire Police officers based at Salisbury station are featured in Nights Cops, a shadowing documentary following officers who work nights shifts in city centres. The Motorcycle Policing unit was featured on Channel 5's Emergency Bikers in Series 2 where they escorted a Hercules from Wootton Bassett
towards Somerset.
Wiltshire Police is also often featured in the counties newspapers, the Gazette and Herald
, Wiltshire Times
, The Swindon Advertiser, The Swindon Star and The Star. And less frequently on the local news programmes: BBC's Points West and ITV's The West Country Tonight
.
Wiltshire Police headquarters was used as a police building for an opening shot in the 1992 version of Agatha Christie
s The ABC Murders. For which all cars and signs were removed.
The scheme gave rise to many of the forces constables, for instance the current Chief Inspector of Swindon Operations, Mike Jones, was in the last ever cadet unit in Wiltshire Police. There has been discussion to roll out a police cadet scheme based on the example of North Wales Police, but due to economic circumstances it seems unlikely that such scheme would be re-introduced.
that provides home security to victims of crime, the elderly and disadvantaged in Wiltshire
. It currently funds three 'bobby vans' that serve as mobile workshops to the three operators, who are trained locksmiths, carpenters, crime reduction officers and fire risk assessors. The operators travel around the county installing equipment to those who need it, free of charge, they are directed by coordinators who prioritise the referrals received from 8 different sources.
The Bobby Van Trust works closely with Wiltshire Police and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
. However it is independently funded through public donations and some small government grants.
The Bobby Van Trust is made up of three operators, three coordinators, 11 trustees and 1 police liaison officer. The current director is Jennie Shaw, the chairman Robert Hiscox and the patron HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.
For the financial year of 2009 The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust raised £256,153, a decrease of £2984 from 2008, and spent £231,692, an increase of 10,908.
and Swindon Borough Council
, they and Wiltshire Police all have representatives for the charity.
SPLASH provides activities throughout Wiltshire
, subsidizes the cost of some existing activities and subsidizes the cost of their activities for certain people. It is raises money through public donations and small government grants.
SPLASH is made up of 6 independent trustees, 1 Wiltshire Police trustee, 3 Wiltshire Council representatives, 2 Swindon Council representatives and 2 Wiltshire Police representatives. SPLASH is staffed by three managers and Police Support Volunteer
s.
For the financial year of 2009 SPLASH had raised £70,998, a decrease of £51,103 from 2008 and spent £103,142 a decrease of 11,853 from 2008.
The project was created as a diversionary activity to reduce anti-social behaviour
and improve relations between young people and the police.
The discos are attended by 100 - 200 children per event every month, and are made up of 60% females and 40% males.
Blues 'N' Zuz discos take place in town halls, village halls, community centres and leased nightclubs in Salisbury, Devizes, Melksham, Trowbridge, Chippenham, Marlborough, Tidworth, Calne, Malmesbury, Corsham, Westbury, Warminster.
Although the effectiveness of the events is hard to measure, anti-social behaviour in Salisbury in 2008 was reduced 37% on the evenings the events were held, compared to the same days in 2007.
lists and commemorates all British police officers killed in the line of duty, and since its establishment in 1984 has erected over 38 memorials to some of those officers.
The following officers of Wiltshire Police are listed by the Trust as having died during the course of their duties:
Territorial police force
The phrase Territorial Police Force varies in precise meaning according to the country to which it is related, generally distinguishing a force whose area of responsibility is defined by sub-national boundaries from others which deal with the entire country or a restricted range of...
responsible for policing Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
and Swindon
Swindon (borough)
The Borough of Swindon is a local government authority in South West England. It is centred on the town of Swindon and forms part of the ceremonial county of Wiltshire...
in the south-west of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
Before 1839 policing in Wiltshire was the responsibility of petty and parish constables, who were supervised by magistrates. This was largely ineffective as they were unpaid and untrained. Independent and private forces such as the Devizes Prosecution Society, emerged and continued to operate after Wiltshire Police was formed.The Municipal Corporations Act 1835
Municipal Corporations Act 1835
The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 – sometimes known as the Municipal Reform Act, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in the incorporated boroughs of England and Wales...
meant that Salisbury Borough was formed and was required to have an official city force, that would replace the local force: New Sarum Police. The Salisbury City Police
Salisbury City Police
Salisbury City Police was a British police force that existed officially between 1835 and 1943. It was absorbed by Wiltshire Constabulary during the Second World War.-History:...
was founded in 1836 and continued to operate separately from Wiltshire Police until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when the two were temporarily amalgamated, however after the war ended the separation never occurred and Salisbury City Police ceased to exist. The official handover took place on 1 April 1943.
Later, in 1839 several groups of labourers rioted in many parts of the county over the price of food and the introduction of new farm equipment that was taking their jobs, they started fires and destroyed the farm equipment. In response to the 225 incidents, residents of Wiltshire called for the formation of a police force similar to Robert Peel
Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846...
s Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
force, whose 'A' division had visited in 1836 to help control riots. When the County Police Act 1839
County Police Act 1839
The County Police Act 1839 was an Act of Parliament passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The act enabled Justices of the Peace in England and Wales to establish police forces in their counties...
was introduced Wiltshire leapt at the chance to form a police force. As a result Wiltshire Constabulary was established on Wednesday 13 November 1839 at The Bear Hotel, Devizes and was the first county police force to be formed, beating Gloucestershire by a few hours.
The first Chief Constable was Captain Samuel Meredith RN who placed an advertisement in the local paper to recruit 200 constables who were paid 17/6d a week. New Constables were given their uniform and an instruction booklet and then sent off to work without any training or guidance, it wasn't until 1843 (and later 1855) that they were given training. Wiltshire Constabulary started operating from January 1840 and had filled all most all its posts by summertime. The Chief Constable spent the first months of his time visiting all the boroughs in Wiltshire, spending almost all his £400 salary on travel. The first ranks were only Constable and Superintendent, but Sergeant, Inspector, Detectives and five classes of Constable were later introduced.
Its motto, Primus et Optimus, means "the First and the Best".
Notable events for Wiltshire Police include the Rode Hill House Murder in 1860, the bomb explosion outside the Salisbury Guildhall in September 1884, the Trowbridge Christmas Eve murder in 1925 and escorting Louis Blériot
Louis Blériot
Louis Charles Joseph Blériot was a French aviator, inventor and engineer. In 1909 he completed the first flight across a large body of water in a heavier-than-air craft, when he crossed the English Channel. For this achievement, he received a prize of £1,000...
when displaying his famous cross-channel airplane.
Twice in the 1980s Wiltshire Police officers had to cover for the prison officer
Prison officer
A prison officer , also referred to as a corrections officer , correctional officer , or detention officer , is a person charged with the responsibility of the supervision, safety and security of prisoners in a prison, jail, or similar form of secure...
s of Erlestoke Prison when they went on strike. In 1985, the force was involved in the Battle of the Beanfield
Battle of the Beanfield
The Battle of the Beanfield took place over several hours on the afternoon of Saturday 1 June 1985 when Wiltshire Police prevented a vehicle convoy of several hundred new age travellers, known as "The Convoy" and referred to in the media as the "Peace Convoy" from setting up at the 11th Stonehenge...
, which prevented a convoy of new age travellers
New age travellers
New Age Travellers are groups of people who often espouse New Age or hippie beliefs and travel between music festivals and fairs in order to live in a community with others who hold similar beliefs. Their transport and homes consist of vans, lorries, buses, narrowboats and caravans converted into...
, known as the Peace Convoy, from establishing the fourteenth Stonehenge free festival
Stonehenge Free Festival
The Stonehenge Free Festival was a British free festival from 1972 to 1984 held at Stonehenge in England during the month of June, and culminating on the summer solstice on June 21. The festival was a celebration of various alternative cultures...
at Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
. The incident led to accusations of a police riot
Police riot
A police riot is a confrontation between police and civilians. The term can also describe a riot by civilians caused or instigated by police...
. The police also had to deal with the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp
Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp
Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp was a peace camp established to protest at nuclear weapons being sited at RAF Greenham Common in Berkshire, England. The camp began in September 1981 after a Welsh group, Women for Life on Earth, arrived at Greenham to protest against the decision of the British...
who were protesting against nuclear weapons being kept in Greenham Common. Most significantly the 1980s saw the introduction of the Police National Computer
Police National Computer
The Police National Computer is a computer system used extensively by law enforcement organisations across the United Kingdom. It went live in 1974 and now consists of several databases available 24 hours a day, giving access to information of national and local significance.From October 2009, the...
, Command and Control systems and HOLMES
Holmes
Holmes is a geographical surname of English origin. The name is first recorded in Lancashire in North West England. The name is derived from "holm", a Scandinavian word meaning "a small island". The word was introduced to Great Britain and Ireland by Old Norse-speaking Vikings...
investigation system. Also a national probationary training programme was introduced in all forces for new recruits.
In January 2008, Brian Moore
Brian Moore (police officer)
Brian Moore QPM is the Chief Constable of Wiltshire Constabulary, he has held the post since the 1st of January 2008.Mr Brian Moore was previously the Deputy Chief Constable at Surrey Police, after working his way up the ranks since 1975 in Lancashire Constabulary, Metropolitan Police and Surrey...
was appointed as Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police. He took over following the departure of Martin Richards
Martin Richards (police officer)
Ch Con Martin Richards QPM is the Chief Constable of Sussex Police and has been in office since the 1st October 2007. He was previously Chief Constable of the Wiltshire Police.-Biography:Martin Richards became Chief Constable of Sussex on 1 October 2007....
, who transferred to become Chief Constable of Sussex Police
Sussex Police
Sussex Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing East Sussex, West Sussex and City of Brighton and Hove in southern England. Its head office is in Lewes, Lewes District, East Sussex.-History:...
on 1 October 2007.
The Deputy Chief Constable
Deputy Chief Constable
Deputy chief constable is the second highest rank in all territorial police forces in the United Kingdom , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and Civil Nuclear...
is former Wiltshire Assistant Chief Patrick Geenty. The Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant chief constable is the third highest rank in all British territorial police forces , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and...
is former Detective Chief Superintendent and Divisional Commander James Veale.
Chief Constables
- 1839 - 1870 Captain Samuel Meredith RN
- 1870 - 1908 Captain Robert Sterne RN
- 1908 - 1943 Colonel Sir Höel Llewellyn DSO, DL
- 1943 - 1946 Mr W.T. Brooks (Acting Chief Constable)
- 1946 - 1963 Lt. Colonel Harold Golden CBE
- 1963 - 1979 Mr George Robert Glendinning OBE, QPM
- 1979 - 1983 Mr Kenneth Mayer QPM
- 1983 - 1988 Mr Donald Smith OBE, QPM
- 1988 - 1997 Mr Walter Girven QPM, LL B, FBIM
- 1997 - 2004 Dame Elizabeth Neville DBE, QPM, MA, PhD
- 2004 - 2007 Mr Martin RichardsMartin Richards (police officer)Ch Con Martin Richards QPM is the Chief Constable of Sussex Police and has been in office since the 1st October 2007. He was previously Chief Constable of the Wiltshire Police.-Biography:Martin Richards became Chief Constable of Sussex on 1 October 2007....
QPM - 2008 - Mr Brian MooreBrian Moore (police officer)Brian Moore QPM is the Chief Constable of Wiltshire Constabulary, he has held the post since the 1st of January 2008.Mr Brian Moore was previously the Deputy Chief Constable at Surrey Police, after working his way up the ranks since 1975 in Lancashire Constabulary, Metropolitan Police and Surrey...
QPM
Organisation
Wiltshire Police is divided into two divisions, known as Basic Command UnitBasic Command Unit
A Basic Command Unit is the largest unit into which territorial British Police forces are divided. This may actually be called a BCU or may have another designation, such as Division or Area. There are 228 BCUs in England and Wales.Most forces are divided into at least three BCUs and some have...
s, D division in Swindon, and E Division for Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
County. Both divisions are headed by a Chief Superintendent
Chief Superintendent
Chief superintendent is a senior rank in police forces organised on the British model.- United Kingdom :In the British police, a chief superintendent is senior to a superintendent and junior to an assistant chief constable .The highest rank below Chief Officer level, chief...
.
Wiltshire
- North Wiltshire
- Cricklade
- Wootton BassettWootton BassettRoyal Wootton Bassett , informally known as Wootton Bassett, is a small market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, with a population of 11,043 in 2001...
- CalneCalneCalne is a town in Wiltshire, southwestern England. It is situated at the northwestern extremity of the North Wessex Downs hill range, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty....
- ChippenhamChippenhamChippenham may be:* Chippenham, Wiltshire* Chippenham * Chippenham, Cambridgeshire-See also:* Virginia State Route 150, also known as Chippenham Parkway, USA* Cippenham, Berkshire, UK...
- MalmesburyMalmesburyMalmesbury is a market town and civil parish located in the southern Cotswolds in the county of Wiltshire, England. Historically Malmesbury was a centre for learning and home to Malmesbury Abbey...
- CorshamCorshamCorsham is a historic market town and civil parish in north west Wiltshire, England. It is at the south western extreme of the Cotswolds, just off the A4 which was formerly the main turnpike road from London to Bristol, between Bath and Chippenham ....
- West Wiltshire
- Bradford-on-Avon
- MelkshamMelkshamMelksham is a medium-sized English town, lying on the River Avon. It lies in the county of Wiltshire.It is situated southeast of the city of Bath, south of Chippenham, west of Devizes and north of Warminster on the A350 national route. The 2001 UK census cited Melksham as having 20,000...
- TrowbridgeTrowbridgeTrowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire, England, situated on the River Biss in the west of the county, approximately 12 miles southeast of Bath, Somerset....
- WestburyWestbury, WiltshireWestbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same...
- Kennet and Salisbury
- Marlborough
- TidworthTidworthTidworth is a town in south-east Wiltshire, England with a growing civilian population. Situated at the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain, it is approximately 10 miles west of Andover, 12 miles south of Marlborough, 24 miles south of Swindon, 15 miles north by north-east of Salisbury and 6 miles east...
- PewseyPewseyPewsey is a large village, often considered a small town, at the centre of the Vale of Pewsey in Wiltshire about west of London. It is well connected to London, the West Country and Wales being close to the M4 motorway and the A303. Also, the village is served by Pewsey railway station on the...
- DevizesDevizesDevizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
- AmesburyAmesburyAmesbury is a town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is most famous for the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge which is in its parish, and for the discovery of the Amesbury Archer—dubbed the King of Stonehenge in the press—in 2002...
- AlderburyAlderburyAlderbury & Whaddon are two small adjacent villages three miles south-east of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England with a population of about 2,000. They are bypassed by the A36 road, which links them to Southampton and Salisbury.-External links:****...
- SalisburySalisburySalisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
- WiltonWilton, WiltshireWilton is a town in Wiltshire, , England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. Today it is dwarfed by its larger and more famous neighbour, Salisbury, but still has a range of notable shops and attractions, including Wilton House.The confluence of the rivers Wylye and Nadder is at...
- TisburyTisbury, WiltshireThe large village of Tisbury lies approximately west of Salisbury in the English county of Wiltshire.With a population at the 2001 census of 2,056 it is an important local centre for communities around the upper River Nadder and Vale of Wardour...
- WarminsterWarminsterWarminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
Basic Command Unit structure
Each area has several specialist teams, namely:- Neighbourhood Policing TeamNeighbourhood Policing TeamNeighbourhood Policing Teams are a concept developed by the United Kingdom police. It involves small teams of police officers who are dedicated to policing a certain community or area. There are 3,600 NPTs throughout the United Kingdom...
(NPTs), each with local Beat Managers and PCSOsPolice community support officerA police community support officer , or community support officer is a uniformed non-warranted officer employed by a territorial police force or the British Transport Police in England and Wales. Police community support officers were introduced in September 2002 by the Police Reform Act 2002...
. The NPTs concentrate on preventing and detecting local crime and targeting offenders, building contacts in the local community, resolving problems by working with local organisations and individuals, and being visible and accessible. Wiltshire Police has 90 NPTsNeighbourhood Policing TeamNeighbourhood Policing Teams are a concept developed by the United Kingdom police. It involves small teams of police officers who are dedicated to policing a certain community or area. There are 3,600 NPTs throughout the United Kingdom... - Targeted Patrol Teams responding to emergency calls
- Traffic UnitsHighway patrolA highway patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is primarily concerned with such duties.Duties of highway patrols or traffic...
patrol the roads and target and pursue people committing traffic offences. - Criminal Investigation Departments (CIDCriminal Investigation DepartmentThe Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
) detect serious crime - Forensic Services investigate crime scenes for forensic evidence that may correspond with many of the Home Office databases
- Pro-active Policing Units target persistent criminals and focus on specific operations
- Police Information PointPolice Information PointA Police Information Point is a manned or unmanned place of information about local policing that are run by British police forces for the benefit of local residents.- About :...
s based at most police stations, run by volunteers who answer questions from the public about police, arrange NPT meeting and deal with inquiries.
Headquarters-based teams
To support the BCUs, several centralised teams operate from the headquarters:- Dog SectionPolice dogA police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
- Major Incident PlanningEmergency managementEmergency management is the generic name of an interdisciplinary field dealing with the strategic organizational management processes used to protect critical assets of an organization from hazard risks that can cause events like disasters or catastrophes and to ensure the continuance of the...
- Major Investigation Team
- Armed Response GroupAuthorised Firearms OfficerAn Authorised Firearms Officer is a British police officer who has received training and authorisation to carry and use firearms. The designation is significant because within the United Kingdom, police officers do not routinely carry firearms...
- Counter Terrorism GroupCounter-terrorismCounter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
- Air Operations UnitWiltshire Air AmbulanceThe Wiltshire Air Ambulance or Wiltshire Police Helicopter, is an air ambulance and police helicopter which responds to seriously ill or injured casualties and police incidents across Wiltshire...
- Emergency Communications CentreEmergency Control CentreAn Emergency Control Centre or Emergency Communications Centre more commonly abbreviated to ECC is a concept used by emergency services in the UK describing a building or room where control room operators take calls from members of the public in need of assistance through the 999 emergency number...
(Wiltshire Emergency Services) - Force Contact Centre (SNEN)
- IntelligencePolice IntelligencePolice intelligence refers to an element of the British police. Staffed by police officers and support staff, its purpose is to track and predict crime with a view to curbing it...
- Corporate Communications
Criminal Investigation Department
On 30 June 1857 the Magistrates Committee expressed interest in forming an investigation department which was founded with three 'of the most intelligent constables'.This situation remained until 1936 when three Detective Constables were recruited and a Detective Sergeant. And it wasn't until 1939 that an official head of the department was appointed, and a Detective Sergeant was appointed to take charge of new equipment such as Photographic, Printing and Fingerprinting departments. That same year the department acquired its first vehicle- an Austin
Austin Motor Company
The Austin Motor Company was a British manufacturer of automobiles. The company was founded in 1905 and merged in 1952 into the British Motor Corporation Ltd. The marque Austin was used until 1987...
saloon car.
CID remained stagnant in its development until after the war, after which it slowly expanded, and in 1997 it had 170 detectives.
Roads Policing Unit
Wiltshire Police patrols 35 miles (56.3 km) of the M4M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
which has 3 junctions, as well as many other 'A' roads including the A346, A338, A36
A36 road
The A36 is a trunk road and primary route in England that links the port city of Southampton to the city of Bath. At Bath, the A36 connects with the A4 road to Bristol, thus enabling a road link between the major ports of Southampton and Bristol. Originally, the A36 continued onto Avonmouth, but...
, A303, A361, A350, A420
A420 road
The A420 is a road between Bristol and Oxford in England. Between Swindon and Oxford it is a primary route.-Present route:Since the opening of the M4 motorway, the road is in two sections. The first section begins on Old Market Street near the centre of Bristol, it passes through Kingswood before...
, A419, A429
A429 road
The A429 is a main road in England that runs in a north-northeasterly direction from junction 17 of the M4 motorway to Coventry in the West Midlands, by way of Malmesbury, Cirencester, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh, east of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, and Kenilworth.For much of its length...
and A4. It was founded on 7 May 1939 at the urging of the Home Secretary.
Motorcycle Policing Unit
Wiltshire Police has 20 officers that patrol Wiltshire on police motorcyclePolice motorcycle
A police motorcycle is a motorcycle used by various police forces and departments. They may be custom designed to meet the requirements unique of a particular use. A police motorcycle is often called a "motor" by police officers in the United States...
s. The unit was featured on Channel 5's Emergency Bikers in Series 2 where they escorted a Hercules from Wootton Bassett
Wootton Bassett
Royal Wootton Bassett , informally known as Wootton Bassett, is a small market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, with a population of 11,043 in 2001...
towards Somerset.
Motorcycle officers are exempt from wearing body armour as they have to wear motorcycle leathers.
Ports Policing Unit
The Wiltshire Police Ports Unit was established in April 2000, it is responsible for policing all non-designated airfields in Wiltshire, making sure that legislation is followed, particularly the Terrorism Act 2000Terrorism Act 2000
The Terrorism Act 2000 is the first of a number of general Terrorism Acts passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It superseded and repealed the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1989 and the Northern Ireland Act 1996...
. It also obtains any intelligence on smuggling and contraband.
Ports in Wiltshire include Old Sarum Airfield
Old Sarum Airfield
Old Sarum Airfield is located north northeast of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.The aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee . The aerodrome is not licensed for night use.The site is a...
, Clench Common Airfield and Redlands Airfield
Redlands Airfield
Redlands Airfield is an unlicenced private airfield in Wanborough, east of Swindon, Wiltshire, a few miles from junction 15 of the M4. Redlands Airfield has been operating since 1990 after being granted planning permission by Swindon Borough Council for a microlight flying club and school...
.
Dog Section
Wiltshire Police has 22 operational police dogPolice dog
A police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
s, handled by 12 officers - 11 are general purpose dogs, 3 explosive search dogs, 3 drugs search dogs, 3 Conflict management dogs and 2 passive drugs dog. The dogs are mostly donated from the public or RSPCA, or purchased, and are trained at the headquarters. They usually serve until they are 8 years old, receiving refresher training every year, and then living with their handler after retirement. The Dog Section is based at the headquarters in Devizes
Devizes
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
.
Armed Response Unit
Wiltshire Police's Armed Response Group is a 24/7 sub-department of the Operations department that responds to major and serious crimes where firearms are involved. The unit responds to incidents with firearms and taserTaser
A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects "neuromuscular incapacitation" and the devices' mechanism "Electro-Muscular Disruption technology"...
guns. The use of tasers has increased since their introduction in 2004. They were used 3 times a month in 2009 compared to once a month in 2006 but overall they have only been drawn 54 times between 2004 and 2009, of which 27 were not fired, merely aimed.
Air Operations Unit
The Air Support Unit was officially created in the spring of 1990 but Wiltshire Police have been renting helicopters since the late 1980s, they experimented with a fixed-wing plane, a Robinson Beta 22Robinson R22
The Robinson R22 is a two-bladed, single-engine light utility helicopter manufactured by Robinson Helicopter. The two-seat R22 was designed in 1973 by Frank Robinson and has been in production since 1979.-Development:...
and an Aérospatiale Gazelle
Aérospatiale Gazelle
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
, but later chose a Bolkow 105 in 1990, which was used for 7 years. After 6 years of service the Chief Constable received the news that the Bolkow was becoming outdated and a replacement had to be found. After Explorer demonstrated their MD-902 helicopter at the HQ their helicopter was chosen and deployed later the next year, where it is since in service today.
Wiltshire Police share the McDonnell Douglas 902 Explorer helicopter with the Great Western Ambulance Service
Great Western Ambulance Service
The Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust is a UK National Health Service trust providing emergency and non emergency patient transport services to Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire in the South West England region...
, an arrangement that is seen in only one other area of the country. Its ambulance call sign is 'Helimed 65' and its police call sign is 'Whiskey Hotel 99'.
The helicopter is operational from 0800 hrs to 0300 hrs all year round. It is staffed by three pilots, four observers and six paramedics, one of each always flies with the helicopter. The Air Support Unit is based at the headquarters in Devizes where a purpose built hangar was built in 1993.
Mounted Division
In 1909 Her Majesty's Inspectorate of ConstabularyHer Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland in the United Kingdom have statutory responsibility for the inspection of police forces.-England and Wales:...
raised concerns over the lack of a mounted division
Mounted police
Mounted police are police who patrol on horseback or camelback. They continue to serve in remote areas and in metropolitan areas where their day-to-day function may be picturesque or ceremonial, but they are also employed in crowd control because of their mobile mass and height advantage and...
in the force. And as a result 6 constables were transferred to the new mounted division, this later doubled to 12 the next year. Although the mounted division wasn't active every day, they were of particular use at the Salisbury Races, and ceremonial duties such as escorting Judges and guarding the Royal carriage. They were also occasionally loaned to neighbouring forces. Unfortunately the fate of the Mounted Division is unknown, but it is most likely it was ended during the introduction of motor vehicles in the 1920s.
Over 60 years passed until mounted police were used again, in 1988 Wiltshire Police borrowed the Mounted Division of the City of London Police
City of London Police
The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate...
for a Swindon Town football match.
Special Constabulary
Special Constables have existed in Wiltshire since their definition was finalised under the Special Constable ActSpecial Constables Act 1838
-Summary description:An Act for the Payment of Constables for Keeping the Peace near Public Works.-Preamble:Whereas great mischiefs have arisen by the outrageous and unlawful behaviour of labourers and others employed on railroads [sic], canals, and other public works, by reason whereof the...
, but were historically looked down on as 'hobby bobbies'.
After going through a period of 'neglect' during the 1990s and early 2000s, the National Policing Improvement Agency
National Policing Improvement Agency
The United Kingdom's National Policing Improvement Agency is a non-departmental public body established to support police by providing expertise in such areas as information technology, information sharing, and recruitment.-Background:...
implemented the national strategy for Specials recruitment, training and development. After setting targets to recruit 100 specials a year, Wiltshire's Special Constabulary
Special Constabulary
The Special Constabulary is the part-time volunteer section of a statutory police force in the United Kingdom or some Crown dependencies. Its officers are known as Special Constables or informally as Specials.Every United Kingdom territorial police force has a special constabulary except the...
currently has roughly 310 officers and is still recruiting. The selection process lasts up to six months. The training programme is another six months and takes place at headquarters in Devizes. All Special Constables are required to complete a two year probationary period.
Solstice
Wiltshire Police is responsible for policing the annual SolsticeSolstice
A solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice each year when the Sun's apparent position in the sky, as viewed from Earth, reaches its northernmost or southernmost extremes...
celebrations that take place every year at Avebury
Avebury
Avebury is a Neolithic henge monument containing three stone circles which is located around the village of Avebury in Wiltshire, south west England. Unique amongst megalithic monuments, Avebury contains the largest stone circle in Europe, and is one of the best known prehistoric sites in Britain...
and the associated sites such as Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
and Silbury Hill
Silbury Hill
Silbury Hill is a prehistoric artificial chalk mound near Avebury in the English county of Wiltshire. It is part of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites UNESCO World Heritage Site, and lies at ....
.
Wootton Bassett
The town of Wootton BassettWootton Bassett
Royal Wootton Bassett , informally known as Wootton Bassett, is a small market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, with a population of 11,043 in 2001...
in Wiltshire is host to the repatriations of fallen service men and women who have died in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The bodies are brought through the town from RAF Lyneham
RAF Lyneham
RAF Lyneham is a Royal Air Force station in Wiltshire, England. It was the home of all the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft of the Royal Air Force before they were relocated to RAF Brize Norton.The station was also home to No...
on their way to the John Radcliffe Hospital
John Radcliffe Hospital
The John Radcliffe Hospital is a large tertiary teaching hospital in Oxford, England.It is the main teaching hospital for Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University. As such, it is a well-developed centre of medical research. It also incorporates the Medical School of the University of Oxford....
. Wiltshire Police are responsible for policing the crowds and any special events.
Officers from Wootton Bassett station received a special award at the Jane's Police Awards for their contribution to policing the repatriations. Police were again praised for policing the 'Ride for Respect' in March 2010, the operation included planning, marshalling and policing the crowd and 22,000 participants. The event which is attended by The Royal British Legion Riders Branch
The Royal British Legion Riders Branch
The Royal British Legion Riders Branch is a branch of The Royal British Legion. It was formed in 2004.Whilst its membership is dominated by ex and current HM Armed Forces personnel, it also welcomes potential members who support the aims of the Royal British Legion, namely of helping and assisting...
will be repeated in April 2011.
Swindon Town Football Club
Swindon Town Football Club on County Road attracts continuous police attention as the club has been known for hooliganismFootball hooliganism
Football hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease, is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans...
since the 1970s. Nick Lowles the author of Hooligans 2: The M–Z of Britain's Football Hooligan Gangs, has said "If you look at Swindon, the police have been very proactive in the last five years in terms of stopping hooliganism".
Swindon Town has imposed Banning Orders on those supporters who cause disruption, criminal damage or are violent when attending games. There were 29 banning orders in place in 2006, which was an increase from a total of 11 in 2005. The increase in banning orders has resulted in a reduction of arrests at games, with only 22 people being arrested attending games in 2005–06 compared to 39 arrests in 2004–05. Of the 22 arrests in 2005–06; 11 were for Public Disorder, 5 for violent disorder
Violent Disorder
Violent disorder is a statutory offence in England and Wales. It is created by of the Public Order Act 1986. Sections 2 to of that Act provide:...
and the rest were made up of offences relating to missile throwing, racist chanting, pitch invasion, alcohol related offences and one incident of being in possession of an offensive weapon. 33 Swindon fans were also banned from travelling to the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
.
Locations
The headquarters of Wiltshire Police is at London Road, DevizesDevizes
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
, were it has always been based because of its geographical position in the centre of Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
The operational headquarters of Wiltshire Police is based at Melksham
Melksham
Melksham is a medium-sized English town, lying on the River Avon. It lies in the county of Wiltshire.It is situated southeast of the city of Bath, south of Chippenham, west of Devizes and north of Warminster on the A350 national route. The 2001 UK census cited Melksham as having 20,000...
for county division and Gablecross for Swindon division.
The emergency communications centres for Wiltshire Police are based at Devizes and Gablecross. The SNEN non-emergency call centre is based at Devizes. Devizes is also the airbase for the Wiltshire Police/Air Ambulance helicopter
Wiltshire Air Ambulance
The Wiltshire Air Ambulance or Wiltshire Police Helicopter, is an air ambulance and police helicopter which responds to seriously ill or injured casualties and police incidents across Wiltshire...
, the base of Wiltshire Police Dog Squad
Police dog
A police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
and the training facilities for all new recruits.
Wiltshire Police's headquarters used to be on Bath Road in Devizes, formerly the Wiltshire Militia Stores it was acquired in 1879 by Wiltshire Police as their headquarters. Nearby was row of houses where seniors officer lived. The building has since been demolished. Wiltshire Police remained at this site for 85 years until the early 1960s when the organization required a larger headquarters and the new building was commissioned on the London Road site, which was officially opened in 1964. And extension was added in 1970's.
The 'Old Town' police station at Eastcott Hill in Swindon was also too small for the expanding organization and was demolished in 1973. The 'D Division' of Swindon was moved to a purpose built building in the centre of Swindon.
Wiltshire Police has 24 stations
Police station
A police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
across the county: 1 in Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
division, Plus 3 police posts, North Swindon
North Swindon
North Swindon is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is located in Wiltshire, South West England.-Boundaries:...
, West Swindon and Swindon Centre, and 21 in county division, Cricklade
Cricklade
Cricklade is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in north Wiltshire in England, midway between Swindon and Cirencester.On 25 September 2011 Cricklade was awarded The Royal Horticultural Society's 'Champion of Champions' award in the Britain in Bloom competition.Cricklade is twinned with...
, Wootton Bassett
Wootton Bassett
Royal Wootton Bassett , informally known as Wootton Bassett, is a small market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, with a population of 11,043 in 2001...
, Calne
Calne
Calne is a town in Wiltshire, southwestern England. It is situated at the northwestern extremity of the North Wessex Downs hill range, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty....
, Malmesbury
Malmesbury
Malmesbury is a market town and civil parish located in the southern Cotswolds in the county of Wiltshire, England. Historically Malmesbury was a centre for learning and home to Malmesbury Abbey...
, Chippenham
Chippenham
Chippenham may be:* Chippenham, Wiltshire* Chippenham * Chippenham, Cambridgeshire-See also:* Virginia State Route 150, also known as Chippenham Parkway, USA* Cippenham, Berkshire, UK...
, Corsham
Corsham
Corsham is a historic market town and civil parish in north west Wiltshire, England. It is at the south western extreme of the Cotswolds, just off the A4 which was formerly the main turnpike road from London to Bristol, between Bath and Chippenham ....
, Melksham
Melksham
Melksham is a medium-sized English town, lying on the River Avon. It lies in the county of Wiltshire.It is situated southeast of the city of Bath, south of Chippenham, west of Devizes and north of Warminster on the A350 national route. The 2001 UK census cited Melksham as having 20,000...
, Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon is a town in west Wiltshire, England with a population of about 9,326. The town's canal, historic buildings, shops, pubs and restaurants make it popular with tourists....
, Trowbridge
Trowbridge
Trowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire, England, situated on the River Biss in the west of the county, approximately 12 miles southeast of Bath, Somerset....
, Westbury
Westbury, Wiltshire
Westbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same...
, Warminster
Warminster
Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
, Tisbury
Tisbury, Wiltshire
The large village of Tisbury lies approximately west of Salisbury in the English county of Wiltshire.With a population at the 2001 census of 2,056 it is an important local centre for communities around the upper River Nadder and Vale of Wardour...
, Mere
Mere, Wiltshire
Mere is a small town in Wiltshire, England. It lies at the extreme southwestern tip of Salisbury Plain close to the borders of Somerset and Dorset....
, Devizes
Devizes
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
, Wilton
Wilton, Wiltshire
Wilton is a town in Wiltshire, , England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. Today it is dwarfed by its larger and more famous neighbour, Salisbury, but still has a range of notable shops and attractions, including Wilton House.The confluence of the rivers Wylye and Nadder is at...
, Alderbury
Alderbury
Alderbury & Whaddon are two small adjacent villages three miles south-east of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England with a population of about 2,000. They are bypassed by the A36 road, which links them to Southampton and Salisbury.-External links:****...
, Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, Amesbury
Amesbury
Amesbury is a town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is most famous for the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge which is in its parish, and for the discovery of the Amesbury Archer—dubbed the King of Stonehenge in the press—in 2002...
, Tidworth
Tidworth
Tidworth is a town in south-east Wiltshire, England with a growing civilian population. Situated at the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain, it is approximately 10 miles west of Andover, 12 miles south of Marlborough, 24 miles south of Swindon, 15 miles north by north-east of Salisbury and 6 miles east...
, Pewsey
Pewsey
Pewsey is a large village, often considered a small town, at the centre of the Vale of Pewsey in Wiltshire about west of London. It is well connected to London, the West Country and Wales being close to the M4 motorway and the A303. Also, the village is served by Pewsey railway station on the...
and Marlborough. There is also 1 police post at Le Delamere motorway services on the M4.
Headgear
Wiltshire Police officers wear the traditional custodian helmetCustodian helmet
Custodian helmet or centurion helmet, technically known as a 'Home Office pattern helmet', is a helmet worn by many policemen in England and Wales.-History:...
in the rose style with a Brunswick star
Brunswick star
The Brunswick star is an emblem which in outline is an eight-pointed or sixteen-pointed star, but which is composed of many narrow rays. It is used in Britain to surround the Royal Cypher on various badges, such as that worn on the caps and helmets of almost all police forces...
that reads 'Wiltshire Constabulary' for foot patrol, a peaked cap for when on mobile patrol in vehicles, and a white peaked cap for traffic officer
Traffic officer
A traffic officer is a person with powers relating to the regulation of traffic on certain roads in England and Wales. In England, they are employed by the Highways Agency and in Wales by the Welsh Assembly Government and are not police officers or members of police forces.*Highways Agency Traffic...
s. Female officers wear a bowler hat, or a white bowler hat for traffic officer
Traffic officer
A traffic officer is a person with powers relating to the regulation of traffic on certain roads in England and Wales. In England, they are employed by the Highways Agency and in Wales by the Welsh Assembly Government and are not police officers or members of police forces.*Highways Agency Traffic...
s.
Uniform
When on duty officers wear a black wicking t-shirt with the Brunswick star and 'Wiltshire Police' on the chest, with 'Police' on the sleeves, and black uniform trousers with a cargo pocket on each leg. Wiltshire Police no longer use the traditional police jumper, having favoured the black fleece with police written on the chest and back. Wiltshire Police do not have Brunswick stars on their epauletteEpaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
s, just the rank
Police rank
- Australia :Generally, all police forces of Australia follow this rank structure with some individual state police forces have ranks differing slightly.Insignia of rank displayed on epaulette in italics and brackets...
and collar number
Collar number
A collar number, also known as a shoulder number, Force Identification Number or occasionally as Force Number , identifies uniformed officers, Police Community Support Officers , and some police staff in UK police forces. Although now displayed on epaulettes A collar number, also known as a...
.
Formal dress comprises an open-necked tunic, with white shirt/blouse and tie/cravat. Constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
s and Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
s wear custodian helmet
Custodian helmet
Custodian helmet or centurion helmet, technically known as a 'Home Office pattern helmet', is a helmet worn by many policemen in England and Wales.-History:...
's and collar numbers on their epaulette
Epaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
s, all higher ranked officers wear peaked caps, name badges and their rank on their epaulettes. The No.1 uniform is accompanied by black boots or shoes and occasionally black gloves, or brown gloves for the rank of Inspector and above.
Equipment
Wiltshire Police officers carry TETRATerrestrial Trunked Radio
Terrestrial Trunked Radio is a professional mobile radio and two-way transceiver specification...
digital radios, HTC PDAs, Hiatt
Hiatt
-Companies:*Hiatt & Co. A defunct UK based handcuff manufacturer best known for their Speedcuffs.-People:*Brenda Hiatt, American author*Fred Hiatt, American journalist*Jack Hiatt , American baseball player*John Hiatt , American musician...
rigid handcuffs, PAVA incapacitant spray
PAVA spray
PAVA spray is dispensed from a hand-held canister in a liquid stream that contains a 0.3% solution of PAVA , a synthetic capsaicinoid, in a solvent of aqueous ethanol...
, the ASP
ASP, Inc.
Armament Systems and Procedures, Inc. , is an offensive compliance weapons manufacturer providing equipment to law enforcement and private security companies. ASP is perhaps best known for its telescoping batons.-History:...
21" collapsible baton, leg restraints, a resuscitation mask and a basic first aid kit. PCSO's don't carry ASPs, handcuffs, leg restraints or PAVA.
Should they be required to, some Wiltshire officers can use body-mounted cameras.
Police vehicles contain a variety of equipment, which can include Arnold batons, traffic cone
Traffic cone
Traffic cones, also called traffic pylons, road cones, highway cones, safety cones, construction cones or witches' hats or safety wizards, are usually cone-shaped markers that are placed on roads or footpaths to temporarily redirect traffic in a safe manner...
s, road signs, breathalyzer
Breathalyzer
A breathalyzer or breathalyser is a device for estimating blood alcohol content from a breath sample...
s, stingers
Spike strip
A spike strip is a device used to impede or stop the movement of wheeled vehicles by puncturing their tires...
, speed guns and more.
Wiltshire Police are the first to give every officer a PDA and personal computer under a £3 million pound venture to make the police more efficient by reducing paperwork and keeping officers on the streets instead of at the police station. Their equipment allows them to write and submit electronic reports wirelessly, to take pictures of crime or criminals and submit them to nearby officers and to receive emails or reports on local crimes, criminals and collisions that they are attending.
Vehicles
Wiltshire Police use many different makes of vehicles from several different car manufacturers for the diverse categories of response vehicles required by the modern Police OfficerPolice officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
. For everyday patrol cars Wiltshire Police use Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
Accords
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
, Ford Focus Estates, and Toyota iQs
Toyota iQ
The Toyota iQ is a city car introduced at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show, with Japanese sales having begun in October 2008 and European sales in January 2009. The production iQ followed a concept vehicle presented at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. A North American version of the iQ, branded as the Scion...
, Aygos
Toyota Aygo
The Toyota Aygo is a city car sold by Toyota in Europe since 2005. All Aygos are built at the new factory of the Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile Czech joint venture in Kolin, Czech Republic. The Aygo was first displayed at the 2005 Salon de l'Automobile de Genève...
and Auris
Toyota Auris
The Toyota Auris is a compact 3 door and 5 door hatchback which shares the same E150 platform with the Toyota Corolla.In Europe, Toyota positioned the Auris as the replacement of Corolla hatchback, while the notchback Sedan continued with the Corolla nameplate...
for NPT cars
Neighbourhood Policing Team
Neighbourhood Policing Teams are a concept developed by the United Kingdom police. It involves small teams of police officers who are dedicated to policing a certain community or area. There are 3,600 NPTs throughout the United Kingdom...
.
Wiltshire Police have a wide variety of vehicles that are utilised by Specialist Divisions. The Roads Policing Units utilises BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
5 Series Touring
BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its sixth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
, and a Lexus
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide, and has...
GS450h as their liveried patrol cars. Armed Response Vehicles are BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
X5s
BMW X5
The BMW X5 is a luxury crossover SUV introduced in 1999 as the first generation E53. It was BMW's first SUV also known as "Four-by-Four" in the UK. It features all-wheel drive which is branded as the "X" drive system and is available with either manual or automatic transmission...
.
With regards to vans, for duties such as custody transportation, they use Ford Transits
Ford Transit
The Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses, and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
, and Iveco
Iveco
Iveco, an acronym for Industrial Vehicle Corporation, originally an alliance of European commercial vehicle manufacturers such as Fiat , Unic and Magirus. Iveco is now an Italian truck, bus, and diesel engine manufacturer, based in Turin...
Dailys
Iveco Daily
The Iveco Daily is a large van produced by Iveco from 1978; it was sold also as Fiat Daily until 1983. It is also available as a minibus.-First generation :...
. And Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
Experts
Peugeot Expert
The Peugeot Expert is a van by the French carmaker Peugeot since 1995. It shares its body design with the Citroen Jumpy and the Fiat Scudo. The engines available throughout the model do differ. The first Expert was discontinued in 2004, for replacement with a facelift version...
with dog cages for the Dog Section
Police dog
A police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
.
Due to Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
being based in Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, Wiltshire Police have a contract with them to supply Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
Civics
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
and Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
Accords
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
to the force for civilian and duty purposes. Wiltshire Police also have a contract with BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
.
Livery
Wiltshire Police use the modern yellow and blue retro-reflective battenberg markings all over all operational vehicles, as well as the Wiltshire Constabulary crest, and the contact phone number. The only exception of this is NPT carsNeighbourhood Policing Team
Neighbourhood Policing Teams are a concept developed by the United Kingdom police. It involves small teams of police officers who are dedicated to policing a certain community or area. There are 3,600 NPTs throughout the United Kingdom...
, which only have markings on the back and front, and read 'Neighbourhood Policing Team' on the side. The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust have permission to use full police markings on their workshop vans, with 'The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust' written on the side.
Wiltshire Police stopped using the 'jam sandwich' police car markings between 2000 and 2005 when battenburg markings
Battenburg markings
Battenburg refers to a pattern of high-visibility markings used to maximise conspicuity, primarily used on vehicles of the emergency services, but also in other applications such as uniforms...
were invented.
Name
Wiltshire Police is one of the few police forces in the UK that has changed its name only once. Policing was the responsibility of Salisbury City PoliceSalisbury City Police
Salisbury City Police was a British police force that existed officially between 1835 and 1943. It was absorbed by Wiltshire Constabulary during the Second World War.-History:...
, but this was independent and ceased to exist after Wiltshire Police was formed. From 1839 - 2005 police in Wiltshire were called 'Wiltshire Constabulary'. To make the police more accessible it was renamed 'Wiltshire Police'. 'Wiltshire Constabulary' still appears on the forces crest, police livery, police helmets and caps but no longer on press releases, signs and stationary.
Strength and recruitment
Wiltshire Police employs 2,236 people and 350 volunteers. Of which 1346 are warranted Police OfficerPolice officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
s, 147 are Police Community Support Officers, 150 are Control Room Operators and Call Handlers, and 593 are civilian staff. Of the 350 volunteers, 80 are Police Support Volunteers and 270 are Special Constables.
Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
Police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
currently is not recruiting Constables, PCSOs, transferred officers, civilian staff or control room operators due to budget cuts
June 2010 United Kingdom Budget
The June 2010 United Kingdom Budget, officially known as 2010 Budget - Responsibility, freedom, fairness: a five year plan to re-build the economy, was delivered by George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to the House of Commons in his budget speech that commenced at about 12.30 p.m on Tuesday...
. They are only hiring for roles that need to be filled.
Wiltshire Police is recruiting people for voluntary roles. Their Police Support Volunteer
Police Support Volunteer
Police Support Volunteer is a voluntary role within the ranks of British Police Forces that involves civilian and mainly office based duties. PSV schemes became popular after the millennium when forces were expanding and needed to be more connected to the community...
scheme has doubled in size over the past year, they now have 80 PSV
Police Support Volunteer
Police Support Volunteer is a voluntary role within the ranks of British Police Forces that involves civilian and mainly office based duties. PSV schemes became popular after the millennium when forces were expanding and needed to be more connected to the community...
s. Their Special Constabulary
Special constable
A Special Constable is a law enforcement officer who is not a regular member of a police force. Some like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police carry the same law enforcement powers as regular members, but are employed in specific roles, such as explosive disposal technicians, court security, campus...
has increased since 2009, with targets of recruiting a total of 300 'Specials' reached in early 2011.
Training for new recruits in Wiltshire is held at the Headquarters in Devizes
Devizes
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
. For Constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
s it consists of eight months' training and a two-year probationary period. For PCSO
Police community support officer
A police community support officer , or community support officer is a uniformed non-warranted officer employed by a territorial police force or the British Transport Police in England and Wales. Police community support officers were introduced in September 2002 by the Police Reform Act 2002...
s it consists of 18 weeks' training and a 15-weeks probationary period. For Special Constable
Special constable
A Special Constable is a law enforcement officer who is not a regular member of a police force. Some like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police carry the same law enforcement powers as regular members, but are employed in specific roles, such as explosive disposal technicians, court security, campus...
s it consists of 7 months of training during weeknights and weekends, and a mandatory two-year probationary period.
Recruits receive their warrant card
Warrant card
A warrant card is proof of identification and authority carried by police officers. The term is normally used only within the United Kingdom and in current and former Commonwealth countries...
and uniform in the first two months of training.
Once the training period is over, the new officers are posted in a local division.
Wiltshire Emergency Services
Wiltshire Police is a member of the Wiltshire Emergency Services project, a collaboration of emergency services in Wiltshire. The project has seen the construction of the WES building at Wiltshire Police Headquarters and the relocation of all three control centres into that one emergency control centreEmergency Control Centre
An Emergency Control Centre or Emergency Communications Centre more commonly abbreviated to ECC is a concept used by emergency services in the UK describing a building or room where control room operators take calls from members of the public in need of assistance through the 999 emergency number...
where information is shared instantly between the three. The project also oversees the sharing of the Wiltshire Police Helicopter/Air Ambulance
Wiltshire Air Ambulance
The Wiltshire Air Ambulance or Wiltshire Police Helicopter, is an air ambulance and police helicopter which responds to seriously ill or injured casualties and police incidents across Wiltshire...
.
British Crime Survey
Wiltshire is one of the safest counties in the UK, with the 6th lowest crime rate per 1000 people in England. Recorded crime dropped by 7%, or 2,706 crimes, between April 2009 and March 2010. Wiltshire Police's detection rate is 6% higher than average, at 28%.Wiltshire Police also have a favourable public image with the 2nd best in the UK for the public perceptions that police are dealing with anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour is behaviour that lacks consideration for others and that may cause damage to society, whether intentionally or through negligence, as opposed to pro-social behaviour, behaviour that helps or benefits society...
effectively, and 3rd best in the UK for the public perceptions that police are dealing with drunk and disorderly behaviour effectively.
Drink driving in Wiltshire has been highlighted as a problem in the National Summer 2010 Drink Drive Campaign that saw 2.87% of 3377 positive for drink driving in June 2010. However this is a drop of 3.53% from 2009.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
A report from March 2010 by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of ConstabularyHer Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland in the United Kingdom have statutory responsibility for the inspection of police forces.-England and Wales:...
marked Wiltshire Police as 1 out of 10 forces that were graded as being 'excellent' and improving on reducing crime, and 'fair' at protecting citizens from serious harm and 'fair' for confidence and satisfaction. Wiltshire was also 1 of 13 forces that is classed as 'good' for local policing and was 1 of 13 forces that received no 'poor' grade in any category.
Independent Police Complaints Commission
In the year 2007/8 complaints and allegations recorded slightly decreased from the previous year. Wiltshire Police has one of the lowest rates for 'Incivility' allegations at 11%, but one of the highest for 'Oppressive Conduct or Harassment' at 15% and 'Breach of PACE Code C' at 9%.In the same 2007/8 period Wiltshire Police received 234 complaints and 460 allegations. Wiltshire has an above average 358 allegations per 100 officers, spread across five categories. Wiltshire Police are 1% or 0% lower on allegations except for 'Incivility, Impoliteness and Intolerance' for which they receive 10% less allegations than the national average.
And of the 460, 26% were investigated, 43% came to a resolution and 31% were withdrawn, dispensed with or discontinued. Of the 26% allegations investigated in 2007/8 91% were unsubstantiated, 2% higher than the national average.
Sgt. Mark Andrews
In June 2008 Pamela Somerville was arrested near MelkshamMelksham
Melksham is a medium-sized English town, lying on the River Avon. It lies in the county of Wiltshire.It is situated southeast of the city of Bath, south of Chippenham, west of Devizes and north of Warminster on the A350 national route. The 2001 UK census cited Melksham as having 20,000...
after being found asleep in her car, for failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis. The custody officer in Melksham police station, Sergeant Mark Andrews was accused of assaulting Ms Somerville during her detention, including dragging her through the custody suite and dropping her onto the concrete floor of a detention cell.
Sgt Mark Andrews was found guilty of actual bodily harm
Actual bodily harm
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm is a statutory offence of aggravated assault in England and Wales, Northern Ireland, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Hong Kong and the Solomon Islands...
and was sentenced to six months in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
and faced dismissal from the police force. Wiltshire Police respected the decision made by Oxford Magistrates Court and apologised to Ms Somerville.
On 14 September 2010 Sgt Andrews was bailed after serving only 6 days of his sentence pending an appeal against his conviction to be held at Oxford Crown court in November 2010.
On Thursday 18 November 2010 Sgt Andrews was cleared of any wrong doing with regards to the allegation of assault in Melksham Custody against Somerville. Sgt Andrews claimed that Pamela Somerville had grabbed hold of the door frame of the cell and on letting go she had fallen to the floor. Mr Justice Bean declared Somerville was drunk when she was put in the cells and he believed that Sgt Andrews did not intend to throw her to the floor.
DCC David Ainsworth
The Deputy Chief Constable David Ainsworth (nicknamed "The Brain" due to his rumoured high intellect) and formerly ACC of Kent Police, was found dead at his home on 22nd March 2011. He had hanged himself. He had been removed from his normal duties while an "internal staff issue" was investigated.. Wiltshire police are now conducting an internal inquiry into the matter.Wiltshire Police Authority
The force is under the local oversight of the Wiltshire Police AuthorityPolice authority
A police authority in the United Kingdom, is a body charged with securing efficient and effective policing of a police area served by a territorial police force or the area and/or activity policed by a special police force...
. This has nine councillor members, who are appointed from Wiltshire Council
Wiltshire Council
Wiltshire Council is the unitary authority for most of the county of Wiltshire, in the West of England, the successor authority to Wiltshire County Council and to four districts—Kennet, North Wiltshire, Salisbury, and West Wiltshire—all of which had been created in 1973 and were...
and Swindon Borough Council, and eight independent members, one of whom is a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. The responsible government department is the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
.
If the Government
Premiership of David Cameron
The premiership of David Cameron began on 11 May 2010 when Cameron accepted the Queen's invitation to form a government. This occurred upon the resignation of Cameron's predecessor as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown...
continues its plans to introduce an elected Police Commissioner
Police commissioner
Commissioner is a senior rank used in many police forces and may be rendered Police Commissioner or Commissioner of Police. In some organizations, the commissioner is a political appointee, and may or may not actually be a professional police officer. In these circumstances, there is often a...
into every police force, then the Wiltshire Police Authority will be scrapped.
Proposed merger
In 2006 the Home OfficeHome Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
announced plans to reduce the number of police forces in the UK from 42 to 24 in an attempt to save money. The plans were abandoned later that year due to lack of funding for the mergers, however the idea has resurfaced many times.
The proposed idea would see Wiltshire Police merge with Gloucestershire Constabulary
Gloucestershire Constabulary
Gloucestershire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the non-metropolitan county of Gloucestershire in England...
, Devon and Cornwall Police, Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Avon & Somerset Constabulary is the territorial police force in England responsible for policing the non-metropolitan county of Somerset, the city & county of Bristol and the unitary authorities of South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset; before 1996 these districts...
and Dorset Police
Dorset Police
Dorset Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the English county of Dorset in the south-west of England.-History:Dorset County Constabulary was formed in 1855. On 1 October 1967 it merged with Bournemouth Borough Police to form Dorset and Bournemouth Constabulary...
to form a 'super police force'.
The plans have been publicly criticised by all the involved forces, stating that it would lead to poor quality service and a reduction in local policing.
Speed cameras
After a 27% loss of funding from the Department of Transport, Chief Executives of Wiltshire and Swindon Camera Safety Partnership decided to switch off all fixed speed cameras, causing the loss of 40 jobs. Despite a 33% reduction in deaths and injuries on Wiltshire roads the decision to close the partnership was made in early August 2010. ACC Geenty said 'This has been a very difficult decision and one that the partners have agonised over because we are of course committed to continuing to improve road safety'.In the media
Wiltshire Police officers are often featured on the Bravo police-reality programmes 'Brit Cops: Zero ToleranceBrit Cops
Brit Cops is a British reality television series following the work of police officers in the UK. It was first broadcast on Bravo. Since the closing of Bravo on January 1, 2011, older episodes were shown on Channel One until the channel closed down on February 1, 2011 and Series 5 is continuing on...
' and 'Brit Cops: Frontline Crime
Brit Cops
Brit Cops is a British reality television series following the work of police officers in the UK. It was first broadcast on Bravo. Since the closing of Bravo on January 1, 2011, older episodes were shown on Channel One until the channel closed down on February 1, 2011 and Series 5 is continuing on...
', the show usually follows officers in Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
or Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
. The show is often repeated on Virgin 1
Virgin 1
Channel One was a television channel owned and operated by British Sky Broadcasting. The channel was launched on 1 October 2007 at 21:00 on Freeview, Virgin Media and Sky as Virgin1, replacing Ftn...
.
Wiltshire Police officers based at Salisbury station are featured in Nights Cops, a shadowing documentary following officers who work nights shifts in city centres. The Motorcycle Policing unit was featured on Channel 5's Emergency Bikers in Series 2 where they escorted a Hercules from Wootton Bassett
Wootton Bassett
Royal Wootton Bassett , informally known as Wootton Bassett, is a small market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, with a population of 11,043 in 2001...
towards Somerset.
Wiltshire Police is also often featured in the counties newspapers, the Gazette and Herald
Gazette and Herald
The Gazette and Herald is a local weekly paid-for newspaper, established in 1816. Published every Thursday. It serves the areas and communities of Devizes, Calne, Chippenham, Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Marlborough, Malmesbury, Corsham, Box and other areas in North Wiltshire.Originally the Devizes...
, Wiltshire Times
Wiltshire Times
The Wiltshire Times is a weekly newspaper published in Trowbridge, Wiltshire in South West England. The paper serves the west Wiltshire towns of Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Corsham, Chippenham, Warminster, Westbury and Melksham as well as many of the small villages in the west Wiltshire...
, The Swindon Advertiser, The Swindon Star and The Star. And less frequently on the local news programmes: BBC's Points West and ITV's The West Country Tonight
The West Country Tonight
The West Country Tonight is a regional television news and current affairs programme, also including local sports news and local features of interest, produced by ITV West & Westcountry at its studios in Bristol...
.
Wiltshire Police headquarters was used as a police building for an opening shot in the 1992 version of Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...
s The ABC Murders. For which all cars and signs were removed.
Wiltshire Police Cadets
Wiltshire Police had a Police Cadet scheme until August 1980 when it was closed, along with many other similar schemes in the UK. The cadets wore uniforms the same as constables, except with a blue-banded peaked cap and 'Cadet' on their epaulettes.The scheme gave rise to many of the forces constables, for instance the current Chief Inspector of Swindon Operations, Mike Jones, was in the last ever cadet unit in Wiltshire Police. There has been discussion to roll out a police cadet scheme based on the example of North Wales Police, but due to economic circumstances it seems unlikely that such scheme would be re-introduced.
Wiltshire Police Band
The Wiltshire Police Band is an arm of the Wiltshire Police recreational club. In October 1984, The Band of the Wiltshire Constabulary was formed by a small group of enthusiastic musicians from within the police force. At first membership was restricted only to officers, but after three years membership was permitted to civilians who were involved in police business. Today Wiltshire Police Band has 26 musicians and plays various engagement throughout the year. They practice every Tuesday at Wiltshire Police Headquarters in Devizes.The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust
The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust was set up in 1998 by Chief Constable Dame Elizabeth Neville, it is an independent charityCharitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
that provides home security to victims of crime, the elderly and disadvantaged in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. It currently funds three 'bobby vans' that serve as mobile workshops to the three operators, who are trained locksmiths, carpenters, crime reduction officers and fire risk assessors. The operators travel around the county installing equipment to those who need it, free of charge, they are directed by coordinators who prioritise the referrals received from 8 different sources.
The Bobby Van Trust works closely with Wiltshire Police and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service is the county-wide, statutory emergency fire and rescue service for the ceremonial county of Wiltshire, England. It is administered by a joint authority of 13 members, 9 appointed by Wiltshire Council and 4 by Swindon Borough Council, called the Wiltshire and Swindon...
. However it is independently funded through public donations and some small government grants.
The Bobby Van Trust is made up of three operators, three coordinators, 11 trustees and 1 police liaison officer. The current director is Jennie Shaw, the chairman Robert Hiscox and the patron HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.
For the financial year of 2009 The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust raised £256,153, a decrease of £2984 from 2008, and spent £231,692, an increase of 10,908.
SPLASH
SPLASH stands for Schools & Police Liaison Activities for School Holidays, it is an organisation that provides activities for children under 16 during school holidays particularly during the summer. Whilst it is an independent charity that was set up in 1992, it is considered a branch of Wiltshire Police, it is based at Chippenham Police Station and is a sub-department of Diversity and Community Affairs, headed by Inspector Bonner-Smith. SPLASH also works with Wiltshire CouncilWiltshire Council
Wiltshire Council is the unitary authority for most of the county of Wiltshire, in the West of England, the successor authority to Wiltshire County Council and to four districts—Kennet, North Wiltshire, Salisbury, and West Wiltshire—all of which had been created in 1973 and were...
and Swindon Borough Council
Swindon (borough)
The Borough of Swindon is a local government authority in South West England. It is centred on the town of Swindon and forms part of the ceremonial county of Wiltshire...
, they and Wiltshire Police all have representatives for the charity.
SPLASH provides activities throughout Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, subsidizes the cost of some existing activities and subsidizes the cost of their activities for certain people. It is raises money through public donations and small government grants.
SPLASH is made up of 6 independent trustees, 1 Wiltshire Police trustee, 3 Wiltshire Council representatives, 2 Swindon Council representatives and 2 Wiltshire Police representatives. SPLASH is staffed by three managers and Police Support Volunteer
Police Support Volunteer
Police Support Volunteer is a voluntary role within the ranks of British Police Forces that involves civilian and mainly office based duties. PSV schemes became popular after the millennium when forces were expanding and needed to be more connected to the community...
s.
For the financial year of 2009 SPLASH had raised £70,998, a decrease of £51,103 from 2008 and spent £103,142 a decrease of 11,853 from 2008.
Blues 'N' Zuz
Blues 'N' Zuz is a not for profit organisation, run by Wiltshire Police, that operates a travelling disco nightclub for teenagers aged between 12 and 16 in Wiltshire. The discos, which occur once a month in many market towns, are arranged and staffed by police constables, PCSOs and volunteers, and usually carry a theme to them. Some events are also attended by Wiltshire Fire and Rescue officers. The discos are strictly non-alcoholic and no drugs events. Transport to and from the events is available free of charge from many locations in Wiltshire.The project was created as a diversionary activity to reduce anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour is behaviour that lacks consideration for others and that may cause damage to society, whether intentionally or through negligence, as opposed to pro-social behaviour, behaviour that helps or benefits society...
and improve relations between young people and the police.
The discos are attended by 100 - 200 children per event every month, and are made up of 60% females and 40% males.
Blues 'N' Zuz discos take place in town halls, village halls, community centres and leased nightclubs in Salisbury, Devizes, Melksham, Trowbridge, Chippenham, Marlborough, Tidworth, Calne, Malmesbury, Corsham, Westbury, Warminster.
Although the effectiveness of the events is hard to measure, anti-social behaviour in Salisbury in 2008 was reduced 37% on the evenings the events were held, compared to the same days in 2007.
Officers killed in the line of duty
The Police Memorial TrustPolice Memorial Trust
The Police Memorial Trust is a charitable organisation founded in 1984 and based in London. The trust's objective is to erect memorials to British police officers killed in the line of duty, at or near the spot where they died, thereby acting as a permanent reminder to the public of the sacrifice...
lists and commemorates all British police officers killed in the line of duty, and since its establishment in 1984 has erected over 38 memorials to some of those officers.
The following officers of Wiltshire Police are listed by the Trust as having died during the course of their duties:
- PC Daniel John Cooper, 2010 (road traffic accident)
- Sgt Michael Ivor Tucker, 1991 (heart attack during firearms training)
- PC John Lewis Marsh, 1989 (collapsed and died after struggling to arrest a suspect)
- DC Mark Herbert, 1987 (road traffic accident)
- PC Desmond Derrick Kellam, 1979 (attacked by a suspect)
- PC Philip Stephen Russell, 1978 (road traffic accident)
- PC Leonard Alan Harding, 1977 (road traffic accident)
- PC Robert Edward Cray, 1973 (struck by car)
- PC Colin D. R. Hayward, 1968 (road traffic accident)
- PC Cedric A. Hemming, 1968 (struck by car)
- PC Maurice William Foord, 1961 (struck by car)
- Chief Insp Edmund Richard Norris, 1955 (road traffic accident)
- War Reserve Constable Albert William Newman, 1942 (shot)
- Insp Albert Enos Mitchell (road traffic accident)
- PC Henry G. Tanner, 1931 (road traffic accident)
- PC Frank Gray, 1929 (road traffic accident)
- Sgt William Frank Crouch, 1913 (shot)
- Supt Frederick Bull, 1892 (fatally injured while riding horse)
- Sgt Enos Molden, 1892 (shot)
- PC Andrew Albert Reuben Hancock, 1875 (attacked during a disturbance)
See also
- Law enforcement in the United Kingdom
- List of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom
- Table of police forces in the United KingdomTable of police forces in the United KingdomThis table of police forces in the United Kingdom includes territorial police forces and special police forces. It does not include non-police law enforcement agencies or bodies of constables not constituted as police forces.-Table:-England and Wales:...