Wiltshire Police pledge to attend all reported home burglaries
They say they get to 88% of them currently
Wiltshire Police they have pledged to make personal visits to all victim of home burglaries in the county.
The National Police Chief's Council today (Wednesday 5th October) set out plans for all forces across the country to hit the 100% mark.
Currently, Wiltshire say their officers attend 88.7% of domestic burglaries, with further action taken in just 3.9% of them.
There were 1,274 reported residential burglaries in the county in the 12 months to September 2022.
Assistant Chief Constable Craig Dibdin said:
“Anyone who has suffered a burglary will know the long-lasting impact it can have - knowing that someone has violated your home can be a hugely unsettling experience which goes beyond any financial damage caused.
“Very often items that are stolen in a residential burglary have sentimental value and can be irreplaceable.
“This coupled with the invasive nature of burglary underlines why it is so important that we respond to such crimes as a priority.
“We know that ensuring our officers attend burglaries at the earliest opportunity will not only provide reassurance but also increase the chance of preserving potential evidence which could support a prosecution.
"We are determined to bring more criminals to justice and support victims of such crimes.”
The decision came following a review of evidence from the College of Policing and in response to public opinion.
The College of Policing, who set the standards for policing, set out the benefits of officers attending domestic burglaries in a recent letter to all chiefs, saying it can increase victim satisfaction, help with investigations and also help prevent future crimes in the area.