More than £100m to be invested in Wiltshire Police estate
Plans to invest more than £100 million into the Wiltshire Police estate over the next ten years were unveiled on Tuesday (January 29 ).
This will include the modernisation and redevelopment of police headquarters in Devizes and the delivery of a Southern Policing Hub.
Wiltshire police and crime commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson joined Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Catherine Roper to launch the 2023/27 Estates Strategy at the newly-finished Tidworth police station.
The chief constable said the importance of a fully-functioning estate for officers and staff “cannot be underestimated”.
Mr Wilkinson added that failing to invest in the police estate would “increasingly become detrimental” to the policing service delivered to communities and the cost of maintaining old, legacy, buildings “would not be a justifiable use of public money”.
They said the new strategy provides residents with a comprehensive vision for how well-placed police stations, hubs and touchdown points provide the right facilities for Wiltshire Police to “work smarter, adapt to changing crime demand and, more importantly, provide greater visibility and reassurance in communities”.
The planned investment includes £90 million to for the redevelopment of the police headquarters site in Devizes over the next decade, including the relocating of Devizes policing hub to the existing headquarters site, and to develop a new operational policing site, training facilities, and administrative office space.
In addition, £19 million will be invested to deliver a new dedicated policing hub in south of the county by 2028.
The PCC and chief constable have identified that the current arrangements for policing estate in the south are not meeting operational need. They said they continue to progress their location options, with Old Sarum and High Post being their two most developed plans at present.
This commitment to invest in facilities is specifically designed to support the changes to the new operating model recently implemented by the chief constable to improve local policing services by “providing a more consistent policing approach alongside increased proactive and visible policing within communities”.
Mr Wilkinson said: “Delivering a police service which meets the needs of its communities has never been more important – or challenging. I know residents want greater public engagement with officers, more public access and an increased officer presence at community level.
“All of this is underpinned by the importance of investment in police ‘estate’ to support the delivery of a policing service I know our residents want – and deserve.
“To fail to invest in our police estate would increasingly become detrimental to the policing serviced received in our communities and to maintain old, legacy, buildings at huge cost would not be a justifiable use of public money.
“My newly-launched Estates Strategy sets out this vision. I believe Wiltshire Police will be better equipped to provide the policing service our communities want if they have the infrastructure which supports them to respond more effectively and efficiently.”
He added that modernisation, rationalisation and redevelopment of the Wiltshire Police estate began nine years ago to ensure the locations and facilities of stations, hubs and touchdowns – informed by operational policing requirements and demand – provided what officers and staff need to work effectively and keep our communities safe.
The latest Estate Strategy now looks at several policing hubs or key sites that require extensive renovation or refurbishment and details the “significant investment” which will be made to ensure the Wiltshire Police estate “actively contributes to making Wiltshire safer” by improving the service the public receives and give the force the right tools and facilities to do its job well.
Mr Wilkinson added that significant investment is needed now to continue to support the chief constable’s policing requirements and to support and deliver his police and crime plan.
Ms Roper said: “The importance of a fully-functioning estate for my officers and staff cannot be underestimated. I believe well-placed and equipped police sites provide the base for my teams to work smarter, adapt to changing crime demand and more importantly, provide greater presence to our communities.
“I believe this strategy will enable my officers and staff to demonstrate our commitment to having a physical presence in our communities.
“These plans will enable us to be a modern and visible organisation who support our communities and workforce and deliver on our commitment to ‘keeping Wiltshire safe’.”
Mr Wilkinson pledged to involve the community as more detailed information about the redevelopment of the Wilshire Police headquarters in Devizes, and the Southern Policing Hub, become available.
“We will be actively engaging with our communities about the detail of our plans as soon as we are able to do so. As always, our communities will be encouraged to use their voice on the policing service – and how that is delivered, and we will take note,” he said.