Evacuation of Wiltshire Police HQ response to possible security breach
The Force has issued an update on the incident
Last updated 11th Sep 2024
Wiltshire Police has revealed it was responding to a potential security breach on Tuesday night when it's headquarters was evacuated.
However, it turned out that there had been no breach, rather seemingly a misunderstanding as the reporting person was having a medical episode at their home address.
The Force says there never a threat to the public, officers or HQ staff.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Deputy Chief Constable Craig Dibdin said: “Yesterday evening (10/09) we responded to a report of a possible security breach at Police Headquarters Devizes.
“Whilst we were developing the information, a number of precautionary steps were taken to ensure the immediate safety of those on the HQ site including enactment of our security procedures and the deployment of armed officers.
“However, as new information came to light, commanders were able to identify that there had been no security breach.
“The reporting person, who was having a medical episode, was located by officers at their home address. There was no malicious intent by the reporting person.
“As per standard practice, we are taking the opportunity to review our procedures and response to this incident."
No links to terrorism
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said on Wednesday morning there is "categorically no link" between terrorism and an evacuation of their headquarters on Tuesday evening (10th September).
Reports online suggested a major threat to the police base in Devizes had sparked a significant response from the emergency services, with several ambulances pictured outside.
A statement posted on the Wiltshire Police Facebook page at around 7pm said the premises had been evacuated as a precaution and asked members of the public to avoid the area, but gave no further detail as to what had prompted the action.
That was then followed with a further statement some three hours later, saying the response had been stood down.
"Contrary to some inaccurate media speculation, there is categorically no link to terrorism," the updated statement reads.
"For public reassurance, we wish to make clear that at no point was there any risk to staff or members of the public.
"There are no reported injuries and no arrests have been made."
Despite the updated statement however, it remains unclear what sparked the evacuation, with armed police also photographed on site at the time.