New report claims 999 calls answered faster in Wiltshire
The report also acknowledges continued challenges around investigations and victim care
Emergency 999 calls in Wiltshire are being answered faster, according to the latest annual report from the area's Police and Crime Commissioner.
Philip Wilkinson's report for 2025/26 covers Wiltshire and Swindon.
It reflects the first full year of delivery against the Police and Crime Plan 2025 to 2029.
The report also recognises areas where further improvement is needed.
Emergency response
The report says emergency response continued to improve despite increasing demand.
It says 999 calls were answered in an average of five seconds, compared with seven seconds previously.
Immediate and priority response times also improved during the year, according to the report.
Neighbourhood policing
The report says investment in neighbourhood policing has helped increase visibility and engagement across Wiltshire and Swindon.
Neighbourhood teams recorded 8,891 engagement activities.
Mobile police stations operated on 250 days.
There were also 24 grant-funded officer posts added to neighbourhood policing teams.
Public confidence
The latest available Crime Survey for England and Wales data shows overall confidence in Wiltshire Police increasing from 70.2 per cent to 71.3 per cent.
A separate national measure found 58 per cent of people believed Wiltshire Police were doing an excellent or good job, compared with 49 per cent nationally.
Mr Wilkinson said:
"This Annual Report shows encouraging progress in many of the areas our communities have told me matter to them, whether that is being able to contact the police and receive a timely response, seeing visible neighbourhood policing or knowing that action is being taken on the issues affecting them locally.
"I'm particularly pleased to see public confidence remain strong. We need to build on that by continuing to listen to our communities, ensuring their priorities shape policing and delivering the service they want and deserve as we continue Making Wiltshire Safer."
Victim support and community safety
The report says supporting victims and reducing violence and serious harm remained a significant focus.
Horizon Victim and Witness Care supported 23,674 individual victims.
Commissioned domestic abuse and related services supported 5,873 people.
The report says prevention work included targeted programmes for people at risk of violence and exploitation.
It says evaluated programmes showed significant reductions in offending.
It also records a 5.6 per cent reduction in recorded anti-social behaviour.
There are 80 Community Speed Watch teams, supported by more than 630 volunteers.
Southern Policing Hub
The report says the year also saw progress towards securing a six-acre site near Salisbury for the future Southern Policing Hub.
Where the report says more is needed
The report says the latest HMICFRS assessment identified continued challenges around investigation quality, victim care, safeguarding, crime recording and vulnerability.
Mr Wilkinson said:
"While there is much to be positive about, I remain clear that progress needs to continue and there are areas where the service our communities receive is not yet consistently at the standard I expect.
"My role is to continue holding the Chief Constable to account, recognising improvement but challenging where further action is needed, particularly around the quality of investigations and the experience of victims.
"We have stronger foundations to build on, and I will continue working with Wiltshire Police, our partners and communities to deliver against the Police and Crime Plan and keep Making Wiltshire Safer."
The report provides further detail on progress across the four priorities of the Police and Crime Plan 2025 to 2029.
It also covers the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Wiltshire Police and partners during 2025/26.