MORE police officers are set to hit Salisbury’s streets as part of efforts to keep the city centre safe.

This comes after Wiltshire Police said contactable police officers are now in place across every neighbourhood in Wiltshire and a dedicated anti-social behaviour lead will deliver tailor action plans to tackle concerns.

The force said these officers will provide a “guaranteed response” for local issues and provide a direct link between the public and police.

These named and contactable officers have been tasked with restoring a connection with the communities they serve.

This comes after the number of people that regularly see officers patrolling in their local area has halved in the past decade.

At the same time, shoplifting has soared to record levels across the country, with 7,884 anti-social behaviour incidents reported in Wiltshire alone in that time.

The force said the increase in visible police officers is a key milestone in the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee – a flagship commitment in the government’s central Plan for Change – aimed at returning visible policing to communities after years of decline.

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“A connection between the police and public has been lost for too long”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Communities are sick of the antisocial behaviour and shop theft blighting their town centres. There are too many neighbourhoods across the country who simply do not feel safe.

“A connection between the police and public has been lost for too long but restoring visible officers to our streets and giving communities a proper named contact will rebuild those bonds with the communities they serve.

“The work forces have done so far under this government’s Plan for Change to restore trusted neighbourhood policing is already making a clear difference.

“We are now ending the postcode lottery of policing and ensuring every single community has a voice to make their streets safer.”

“Coordinated blitz on crime” with 24 new neighbourhood officers

The Home Secretary’s Safer Streets Summer Initiative has seen five towns in the county joining over 500 nationwide in a coordinated blitz on town centre crime and antisocial behaviour.

To ensure Wiltshire Police gets the support it needs to keep its streets safe, 24 additional neighbourhood officers will be joining neighbourhood policing teams by spring next year.

This means up to 3,000 more officers and PCSOs in neighbourhood policing across all police forces in England and Wales.

Chief Superintendent Doug Downing, the Head of Local Policing, said: “Neighbourhood policing remains the bedrock of an effective police service.

“We recognise that community engagement is a critical component in preventing crime but so too is the work being undertaken away from the patrols in our communities.

“All ten Neighbourhood Policing Teams across our county are committed to working with partners and our communities to drive down crime and reduce anti-social behaviour. We want our communities to feel safe.

“As such, we will continue to prioritise a service that is visible and accessible. Our neighbourhood teams work hard to identify and address the root cause of crime and anti-social behaviour, often through preventative measures, problem solving, and engagement.

“We encourage the public to actively engage with officers and, where they exist, share your concerns. To further support our community engagement, you can find more information about local events on the Your Area page of our website or our social media pages.”

John Hayward-Cripps, chief executive of Neighbourhood Watch, said: “This initiative reflects what many Neighbourhood Watch members want: responsive policing that prioritises local relationships.

“This is so important because people stop reporting issues when they don’t have confidence that something will be done. We know that successful community policing takes time.

“Having named and contactable officers is an extremely positive step, the most effective neighbourhood policing models combine targeted approaches with genuine community engagement.

“Working with communities as partners rather than passive recipients, should deliver the visible, community-based policing that not only keeps people safer, but builds confidence and encourages all of us to play an active role in our communities. “