Wiltshire police is proud to announce an exciting new collaboration with local business, Wadworth Brewery.
As of today Wiltshire Police, working with the Wadworth team, will begin training a mounted Police officer unit as part of a new horse share initiative.
Due to cuts to police budgets, Wiltshire Police have been exploring new and creative ways to save money. Sharing Wadworth’s Shire Horses, who have delivered beer to the local pubs for over 125 years, will allow Wiltshire Police to re-introduce a mounted police unit to Wiltshire.
Horses have a long history of working closely with the police, offering the Force more diversity in their approach to crime prevention, searches and policing large groups of people, including demonstrations and football matches.
Devizes Community Policing Team Inspector, Nick Mawson said: “As a rural county reintroducing a Mounted Unit seemed like a natural fit.
“Shire Horses are not usually considered for policing but we feel their strength and colossal height, of on average 18 Hands, will add a huge operational advantage enabling officers to spot problems quickly and stop criminals on the hoof.
“I know there will be some neigh-sayers that will say this won’t work, but we are confident with careful management this will be one of our mane crime prevention techniques.
“This move will give us unbridled capability to tackle crime in our communities.
“We want criminals to know that when they fall foal of the law we won’t be horsing around trotting out the traditional tactics they are used to seeing.”
The Mounted Unit will be led by specially trained officers, with the day to day management of the horses remaining with Wadworth’s Horseman Martin Whittle and his team.
Elaine Beckett, Head of Marketing & Communications at Wadworth said: “We are really pleased to join Wiltshire Police on this new venture.
“A horse share is not something we had previously considered but we are always looking for new opportunities for our beloved shires.
“Wadworth has a long family history with our shire horses and their welfare and enjoyment in life is our main priority.
“The three Wadworth gelding Shire horses Max 14, Monty 13 and Archie 5 will join Wiltshire Police on a part time basis. When they are not assisting with police business they will continue their important work delivering beer for the Wadworth and taking part in local events.
“Our three shire horses are very sociable and love being out in the community. Supporting our local police force with this venture gives them the opportunity to get out more, meet and help local people in their time of need and rein in those criminals who stirrup trouble in our communities.
“They will have to undergo a variety of training but we are confident with a couple of polos as an incentive they will pick this up quickly.
“We are told when carrying out policing activities the horse will be assigned the call sign Dray-Z.”
Operational implementation of the new unit has experienced a minor delay. Standard issue police horse shoes have come up a little small but once the new custom shoes have been delivered you can expect to see the new Wiltshire Police Shire Horse Mounted Unit out in force around the county.
