Wiltshire Police Chief: "Officers won't be cut", despite the need for savings
The Force faces a funding deficit of £5million
Last updated 15th Jan 2025
Wiltshire's Police Chief insists there will not be any less officers on our streets despite the need to make £5 million in savings over the next 12 months.
Wiltshire Police faces a funding shortfall despite the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) requesting the Policing Precept - which is the amount we contribute through council tax - rises by 5% this year, the maximum allowed amount, without holding a local referendum.
Catherine Roper told Greatest Hits Radio that it's a tough ask, but she refuses to compromise on officer numbers.
"We have a commitment to not reduce the number of police officers and that's an absolute commitment," she said.
The Chief also said that no police stations will be closed either.
She told us: "I am focused on making sure that we do not detract from our public access points.
"Over the last 12 months, 18 months or so, we've been out and about in communities much, much more through the mobile police stations and be much more proactive in going to public events.
"So my focus is making sure our communities still know where and when and how they can access both police officers and of course our PCSO's and our neighbourhood teams."
Despite the insistence that officer numbers won't be cut, the Chief revealed her team will be reviewing how staff and officers are deployed to ensure maximum output.
She didn't rule out using technology, such as AI, to help boost performance.
"We need to go through every single one of our departments and say, well, how are we doing things at the moment, could we be doing it better? Is technology our way towards that?" she said.
She's also keen to make sure that as many PC's are out on the beat as possible, saying: "These questions are exactly what I'm asking my people to find answers to. Where are our people? Could they be doing something else? Are there ways that we can function better?"
The Chief told us they will continue to hold staff and officers to the highest standards possible, saying the principals of tolerating the highest levels of performance are now embedded in the organisation.
The PCC's precept rise is currently subject to a survey, which we can complete here.