POLICE have set out a new direction for the year ahead, with chief constable Catherine Roper outlining three priorities she says reflect what matters most to communities across the county.

From April, the force will focus on safer public spaces, reducing violence against women and girls and improving outcomes for victims – areas intended to shape day-to-day policing and longer-term strategy.

The renewed emphasis on safer public spaces builds on existing work but sharpens attention on knife crime, anti-social behaviour and youth offending, alongside a continued push to strengthen neighbourhood policing.

A second priority centres on tackling violence against women and girls, with a focus on domestic abuse, rape and serious sexual offences, as well as stalking and harassment.

The third aims to improve the quality of investigations to deliver better outcomes for victims.

Roper said: “Whilst I hope our communities can see the improvements we are making to the service we are delivering, there is more to do.

“My officers, staff, volunteers and I remain fully committed to Keeping Wiltshire Safe.

“These new priorities will focus our efforts in the areas which our communities tell us matter the most to them.”

The strategy follows what the force describes as significant progress under its previous priorities, introduced in 2023.

Police point to increased visibility in communities, expanded preventative operations and a rise in enforcement activity, including more than 16,000 speeding fines issued in a year.

There have also been reductions in some of the most serious violent offences and residential burglaries, alongside improved conviction rates in serious sexual offence cases.

At the same time, demand on services remains high, particularly in rural areas, where reports of crime have increased and targeted enforcement has led to a sharp rise in arrests for offences such as hare coursing.

Roper added: “We have seen significant improvements in our operational delivery and service to the communities of Wiltshire under the priorities I set in 2023.

“The collaborative efforts of our officers, staff and volunteers have built ever stronger foundations for the next year and I would like to thank them for their dedication.”

The force’s detailed plans for 2026/27 will guide how these priorities are delivered in practice, with further public engagement promised in the coming months.