Neighbourhood policing teams across Wiltshire have carried out a wide range of community engagement and enforcement activities during a national week highlighting the role of local policing.
Officers and staff from Wiltshire Police took part in Neighbourhood Policing Week of Action, an initiative designed to showcase the work undertaken by neighbourhood teams to keep communities safe and maintain strong links with residents.
During the week, officers visited schools, attended community meetings and worked alongside partner agencies on operations targeting a range of criminal activity.
According to figures released by the force, neighbourhood teams visited 23 schools across Wiltshire, speaking to young people about safety, crime prevention and issues affecting their communities.
Police also hosted 13 community consultations and drop-in sessions, giving residents the opportunity to raise concerns directly with officers and discuss local policing priorities.
In addition, officers attended 10 meetings involving local authorities and community organisations, including parish councils, town councils, area boards and Pubwatch groups. Police said these meetings play an important role in building partnerships and developing coordinated responses to local issues.
Neighbourhood teams also visited places of worship during the week as part of efforts to strengthen engagement with a diverse range of communities across the county.
Alongside community outreach work, officers carried out a number of enforcement activities in partnership with other agencies.
Operations focused on tackling issues including retail crime, organised criminal activity, immigration offences, modern slavery, human trafficking and licensing breaches.
Acting Chief Inspector Leighton Williams said neighbourhood teams had worked closely with partner organisations to carry out immigration and welfare checks at commercial premises, with a particular focus on identifying and safeguarding vulnerable individuals who may have been trafficked into the country.
He said officers and staff also visited around 120 properties alongside Trading Standards officers and carried out visits to retail businesses to reassure staff that incidents of theft and violence against shop workers are being treated seriously.
In rural parts of Wiltshire, neighbourhood officers conducted targeted patrols in response to reports of non-dwelling burglaries, including thefts from outbuildings, farms and commercial premises.
As part of these patrols, officers provided crime prevention advice and guidance to residents and business owners on measures that could help reduce the risk of becoming victims of crime.
Wiltshire Police said the week demonstrated the broad role played by neighbourhood policing teams, which combines visible patrols and community engagement with intelligence gathering, safeguarding work and targeted enforcement.
The force added that neighbourhood officers remain focused on being accessible and responsive to local concerns while working with communities and partner agencies to address crime and anti-social behaviour.
Police are encouraging residents to engage with their local neighbourhood teams and continue reporting concerns to help shape policing priorities in their area.
