PCC reveals power of cross-agency working in reducing crime
Police are working with council and business organisations to tackle shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and street drinking
Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) wants to maximise the potential of partnership working to drive crime down across the county.
Philip Wilkinson insists its crucial to tackling issues such as retail crime, anti-social behaviour and street drinking.
The Force is working with countywide organisations such as Wiltshire Council and Turning Point, as well as town and city authorities to combat the problems posed to town centres.
"It's an absolute prerequisite that we get everybody together to tackle these broader issues," he said.
The Force is also engaging with Business Improvement District's (BID) to share intel with Neighbourhood Policing teams.
A formalised relationship with the Salisbury BID is helping develop a comprehensive plan to deal with anti-social behaviour and shoplifting.
The PCC said: "We can see that it is working in Salisbury, anti-social behaviour is down across the county."
He told us it's down by 10% in Swindon and by 20% in Salisbury.
Mr Wilkinson said the improved use of CCTV is helping too, with over a hundred cameras in Salisbury, but Swindon has more than a thousand.
He added: "Every plan will be bespoke to the town centre, but we want to make maximum use of the potential of all of us to make Wiltshire safer.
With funding at a premium, the Force and partner agencies are having to make sure every penny spent makes a difference.
That's achieved by a series of small projects, like protective fences around assets, like Salisbury Playhouse, where anti-social behaviour has been noted, to ensure maximum effect.
He said: "We cannot afford to waste one single penny of taxpayers' money, but neither can any of the other agencies, you know, whether that's Wiltshire Council or the BID itself, we all need to work together to have the best effect and in the most cost-effective fashion."