Wiltshire Police has made notable improvements, but there remain areas of concern

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) graded Wiltshire Police’s performance across eight areas of policing and found the force was good in two areas, adequate in four areas and requires improvement in two areas.

HMICFRS said the force’s prevention work continues to be a clear strength, with early intervention work with young people and partnership initiatives producing tangible benefits to communities.

The inspectorate also said the force has made notable improvements in most areas relating to responding to public, including how quickly it answers emergency calls and how quickly officers attend incidents. The force has improved its governance and now has a more stable and diverse senior leadership team.

HMICFRS said the force still needs to improve how it allocates and supervises investigations, and how it records crime outcomes, to make sure victims get the service they deserve. The inspectorate also found problems in crime recording and the monitoring of protective and preventative orders. Non-emergency call abandonment rates have improved but remain at an unacceptably high level.

The inspectorate also said that further improvement is needed in how the force’s leadership promote cultural change and use data more effectively to inform its decision-making. HMICFRS found gaps in leadership development and talent management, the professional development review process and the oversight of continuing professional development.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Kathryn Stone OBE said: “I am satisfied with many aspects of the performance of Wiltshire Police in keeping people safe, reducing crime and providing an effective service to victims.

“The force has made notable improvements, particularly in its use of powers and responsiveness to the public. I am also pleased the force continues to focus on preventing crime, including its successful approach to early intervention with young people.

“Comparing performance with the last inspection, there are some enduring issues in leadership, culture, data use, professional development, non-emergency abandonment rates, the management of vulnerability and investigation standards. The force must continue to monitor progress and implement specific recommendations to address these.

“Wiltshire Police is making progress, and I am confident the plans and leaders the force has in place will help it make the improvements needed. I will continue to monitor performance and expect to see further progress.”

Chief Constable Catherine Roper said: “This inspection illustrates that we are continuing on our long-term improvement journey – from being graded as one of the worst performing Forces in 2022 to demonstrating sustained performance or progression in each area graded in this inspection.

“It recognises enhancements within our approach to neighbourhood policing, preventing crime, and responding to the public and I am pleased that inspectors have seen clear improvements in these areas.

“However, the report identifies that we must do more in how we investigate crime and safeguard vulnerable people. We accept these findings in full and have already begun taking action to strengthen supervision, improve safeguarding processes and ensure victims consistently receive the service they deserve.

“Assisting with our onward improvement is having greater financial stability. In addition to identifying almost £8m worth of savings last year, we’ve already identified most of the required savings for this year, strengthened our financial discipline, and protected our reserves which allows us to better plan ahead.

“I welcome the independent scrutiny and assessment HMICFRS provide. Our focus now is on embedding the learning from this report, continuing to enhance the service we provide and ensure we are Keeping Wiltshire Safe.”

Wiltshire’s police and crime commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson said the latest HMICFRS PEEL inspection “confirms that Wiltshire Police is moving in the right direction, with clear and independently recognised improvements”.

“Progress since the very difficult inspection outcomes of 2022 is real, credible and sustained but there is still more to do,” he said.

“For some time now, it has been evident to me as PCC that Wiltshire Police is no longer recovering from failure. The Force has moved decisively into the more demanding phase of embedding improvement and building long‑term, sustainable performance.

“That matters because policing is not judged by inspections alone. It is judged by how safe people feel in their neighbourhoods, how quickly emergency calls are answered, whether help arrives when it is needed, how fairly people are treated and how well victims are supported. The latest inspection evidence shows tangible improvement across these measures, while also being clear about where greater consistency and grip are still required.

“The most encouraging aspect of the findings is the strength of performance in the areas that most directly affect public confidence. Inspectors have recognised effective neighbourhood policing, strong partnership working and increased visibility in our communities, alongside improved prevention and early intervention, particularly with young people.

“There have also been significant improvements in responsiveness. Emergency call handling is now exceeding national expectations, and outcomes for victims are improving through stronger oversight and scrutiny of investigations. These are changes that communities can see and feel, not just figures on a page. However, inspectors are also clear that further work is needed, particularly around consistency in investigations and safeguarding.

“Taken together, this marks a significant shift from where Wiltshire Police stood in 2022, when it was graded as one of the worst performing forces in the country. That assessment was deeply concerning and reflected long‑standing systemic issues that affected victims, public confidence and organisational resilience.

“Since then, the focus has been on steadying the ship, restoring grip and rebuilding the foundations of effective policing. It is clear there has been a clear focus within the Force to bring stability, clarity of purpose and a renewed emphasis on standards, legitimacy and service to the public.

“Two years on from the force being removed from Engage, this inspection demonstrates that improvement has been sustained across every area inspected.”

Mr Wilkinson added: “Progress does not mean the work is finished. Inspectors are clear – and the chief constable and I fully agree – that further progress is required to improve investigative consistency, strengthen safeguarding for vulnerable people, fully comply with the Victims’ Code and continue building leadership confidence and organisational culture.

“I welcome the fact that these findings are accepted in full by the Force and that action is already under way to address them.

“All of this is happening in a challenging national context, with significant financial pressure, rising demand and ongoing reform across policing. Like every force, Wiltshire must make difficult decisions while protecting frontline services. In that context, being a smaller force is not a weakness.

“This inspection shows that Wiltshire Police is increasingly agile, focused and closely connected to its communities and partners and in some areas, performing above its weight.

“Improvement, however, is not yet even across the organisation. Strength in neighbourhood policing and responsiveness must not obscure the need to accelerate progress in investigations, safeguarding and organisational confidence. Sharper focus is now essential.

“I welcome the chief constable’s clear operational priorities: safer public spaces, tackling violence against women and girls and improving outcomes for victims through consistently high‑quality investigations. These priorities align directly with both the inspection findings and what residents, partners, elected representatives and victims continue to tell me.

“Wiltshire remains one of the safest counties in the country, but safety must be more than a statistic. It must be a lived experience. People must feel safe, trust the service they receive and have confidence that their concerns will be taken seriously.

“This inspection confirms we are a long way from where we were in 2022. Wiltshire Police is delivering measurable improvement under sustained pressure and is clear about what still needs to change.

“Independent scrutiny remains vital, and I will continue to challenge, support and hold the Force to account as it moves into the next phase – embedding consistency, confidence and resilience so that Making Wiltshire Safer is an everyday reality for all our communities.”