Last day to take part in Wiltshire Police merger survey
Officials are looking at plans to create a larger regional force
Today marks the last opportunity for residents of Wiltshire and Swindon to have their say in a survey looking at the potential merger of Wiltshire Police into a larger regional force.
It was started by the Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson - and aims to capture local perspectives on the proposed changes to force structure and regional governance.
Philip Wilkinson has emphasised the importance of the survey, explaining that it seeks to ensure that local voices are considered in the decision-making process.
He shared that initial results indicate a significant proportion of respondents—64%—are not in favour of merging Wiltshire Police into a larger regional force.
Additionally, 74% of respondents express concerns about potential reductions in local knowledge of communities and issues, whereas 61% believe such a merger could enhance access to specialist policing capabilities.
The Government is proposing mergers of police forces into larger regional units, alongside the potential abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners by 2028.