Last chance to have your say on the future of policing

Residents across Wiltshire and Swindon have just days left to have their say on Government plans for the biggest overhaul of policing in a generation, with Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson's police reform survey closing at the end of this week.

The Commissioner is making a final call for local people to share their views on proposals that could dramatically reshape policing, including the creation of larger regional police forces and the abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners from 2028.

The Government is considering reducing the number of police forces across England and Wales from the current 43 force model to a smaller number of larger regional forces, with reports suggesting the number could fall to as few as 12.  

The proposals also include dedicated Local Policing Areas, with ring fenced teams of police officers and Police Community Support Officers focused on visible neighbourhood policing and local problem solving. 

Early survey responses suggest residents see both potential benefits and drawbacks in the Government's proposals. Nearly three quarters (649 out of 881 respondents) said they believe moving to a larger regional force would lead to worse local knowledge of communities and local issues. 

However, 61% (641 respondents) said they think a regional force would provide better specialist policing capabilities. The survey also shows significant opposition to force mergers, with 64% (563 respondents) saying they do not support Wiltshire Police being merged into a larger regional organisation. 

With the survey due to close at the end of the week, Mr Wilkinson said it was important that as many residents as possible took the opportunity to contribute before the deadline.

He said: "This is the last opportunity for residents to tell us what they think about proposals that could reshape policing in Wiltshire for decades to come. 

"These reforms could have a significant impact on how policing is delivered locally, from neighbourhood policing and officer visibility through to local accountability and decision making. 

"The Government is not currently seeking the public's views directly, which makes it even more important that local people take this opportunity to share their views before the survey closes.

"While the responses received so far suggest many residents share my concerns about the potential impact of larger regional forces on local knowledge and accountability, there is still time for people to make their voices heard.

"Once the survey closes at the end of this week, the opportunity for Wiltshire and Swindon residents to have their say will be gone.

"Whether people support these proposals, oppose them, or simply want to make sure local priorities are not overlooked, I would strongly encourage them to take a few minutes to complete the survey.

"I firmly believe that policing works best when it reflects the needs and views of the communities it serves. Before any decisions are made about the future of policing, Wiltshire and Swindon residents deserve to have their say."

The findings will help inform the Commissioner's ongoing engagement with Government and national policing bodies as discussions on police reform continue. A summary of responses may be published, while individual responses will remain confidential.

Residents have until Sunday to complete the survey.