TRAINEE police officers in Wiltshire have been put on the frontline for the first time as part of a live operation aimed at tackling sexual predatory behaviour.

Newly recruited constables, still in training, have taken part in a Project Vigilant deployment – marking the first time nationally that officers at this stage of their careers have been used in a live Vigilant operation.

Project Vigilant focuses on identifying and disrupting behaviour linked to sexual offending before crimes take place.

By deploying trainees early, Wiltshire Police say recruits are gaining real-world experience of stop and search, rather than practising solely in controlled training environments.

During these deployments, officers are trained to spot warning signs that may indicate predatory behaviour.

Police say intelligence gathered during Vigilant operations shows that around two in three people stopped are later identified as posing a risk of sexual harm.

Officers are taught to look for behaviours such as loitering without clear purpose, harassment or stalking, sexually inappropriate conduct, misogynistic comments towards strangers, and patterns linked to previous incidents or intelligence.

The aim is early intervention – challenging behaviour, gathering information and preventing offences before they happen.

Detective Inspector Jen Jeffcoat-Marsh said the move represents a significant shift in how the force embeds its approach to tackling violence against women and girls.

She said Project Vigilant is being woven into initial police training so new officers adopt its principles from the very start of their careers, creating a lasting cultural change across the force.

“Our goal is simple,” she said. “We want Wiltshire to be a place where women and girls feel safe to live their lives without fear.

“Project Vigilant is about action – spotting risks early, challenging harmful behaviour and stopping predators before they cause harm.”

She added that each deployment strengthens police intelligence and sends a clear message that predatory behaviour will not be tolerated, noting that a record amount of information was gathered during operations last October.

Wiltshire Police are urging the public to continue supporting the initiative by reporting concerns and stress that even small pieces of information can help protect potential victims.

Reports can be made online, by calling 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers.