Wiltshire Police station changes coming to save money
The police estate in Devizes, Amesbury and Salisbury will be affected
Wiltshire Police has announced changes for their estate, as part of efforts of save the force around £5.2 million.
It'll affect Devizes, Amesbury and Salisbury services, with the Chief Constable Catherine Roper saying it'll also support their pledge to improve police visibility in communities.
By the end of April. a series of changes will have been completed:
• Devizes Borough Police Station will close, with the local policing team and detective cohort relocating less than a mile away to Police Headquarters
• Amesbury Police Station will close with the Neighbourhood Policing Team, who currently use the station as a touch down point, and detective cohort continuing to work from Tidworth Police Station
• The police facility on Wilton Road, Salisbury, which has no teams permanently based there, will close and the video interviewing facility there will be relocated to Tidworth
• A fully functional public front counter at Police Headquarters, Devizes, will be opened
Chief Constable Roper said: “As part of the review into how we deliver our service to the public due to the financial challenges we face, we’ve identified several opportunities to make our community offer more supportive.
“I remain fully committed to ensuring our frontline resources are serving in the places our communities need us the most and that we will continue to transparently review how we operate to ensure we achieve this.
“Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be enhancing their visibility in our communities by increasing the use of our mobile police stations, attending more local events and will continue to proactively publicise where they will be and how people can engage with them.
“Our communities in Amesbury, Ludgershall and surrounding areas have always been supported by our NPT which has deployed from Tidworth.
“Last year, this NPT attended more than 500 community engagements across the area – including school visits, drop-in sessions in local locations and attending community events. Across the next financial year, I will be expecting these engagements to increase.
“As per my commitment earlier this year, we will not close any police station which has a public front counter – the three facilities detailed here do not have any public access.
“However, with the proposal to open a fully functional public front desk at our HQ site by the end of April, we will be increasing the number of locations the public can access our services.
“We currently have 17 yellow phones outside police buildings across the county which have a direct line to our control room where the public can report crime and seek support. It is our intention to increase the number of yellow phones across Swindon and Wiltshire within the next 12 months.
“These changes form part of our drive to make our organisation more effective in delivering policing services across our county and Keeping Wiltshire Safe.”
Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Philip Wilkinson said: “I fully support the Chief Constable’s considered approach, which has been based upon operational need, in ensuring Wiltshire Police remains visible, accessible, and responsive to the needs of our communities - even in the face of significant financial challenges.
“While any change involves difficult decisions these buildings, which were used for office space and with no public access, had already been earmarked for disposal. This approach ensures that frontline policing is protected and officers are deployed where they are needed most. The Chief Constable has assured me that these efficiencies will enhance community policing, with an increased focus on neighbourhood engagement, improved use of mobile police stations, and more visible patrols.
“I will continue to work closely with the Chief Constable, providing challenge and scrutiny to ensure these plans deliver real, tangible improvements for the public. Together, we are committed to building trust and confidence in policing, ensuring that officers remain accessible, visible, and engaged with the communities they serve.
“By improving how officers engage with communities and ensuring resources are used effectively, we can deliver a stronger, more visible police presence across Wiltshire and Swindon, making our communities safer.”