A survey where you can have your say on how policing in Wiltshire can improve has been launched.

The county's Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, will be using the consultation to "shape the future of policing in Wiltshire".

The Use Your Voice survey will inform the commissioner's new Police and Crime Plan, which will set out his strategy for policing and crime priorities until 2025.

Last week, Wiltshire Police came under fire after Home Office statistics showed it was the worst force in the country for rape convictions.

Read more: Wiltshire Police worst force for prosecuting rape, according to Home Office

Wiltshire Police, however, responded by saying that the figures were underreported as the force is one of just three in the country to still report crime outcomes manually.

The force says this means outcomes lag behind reported crimes, meaning rape convictions are actually higher than the Home Office reports.

Philip Wilkinson added that addressing "violence against women and girls, alongside rape and serious sexual assault" will be a "key feature" of the Police and Crime Plan.

'If it matters to you, it matters to me'

The PCC says the pledges and priorities in the Police and Crime Plan should reflect the needs of residents.

He said: "What has become apparent to me is the widening gap between what is important to the public and the police priorities. Closing that gap is very much my responsibility.

"This consultation is the chance for every resident to have a say in what is important to them.

"Listening to the views and opinions of Wiltshire’s residents will mean the Police and Crime Plan is informed by them and the policing priorities have been directly influenced by them.

"It is terribly important that all our communities get a say and a chance to use their voice for good. Don’t think that I don’t want to hear your views – if it matters to you, it matters to me."

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Russell Holland, added: "Having been a councillor in Swindon for around 20 years, I know how vitally important it is for our communities to directly influence and shape the services they receive.

"Both myself and Phil know there are some residents whose daily lives are blighted by anti-social behaviour, who see drug dealing in the streets and whose communities are vandalised.

"We’re also equally aware that some residents in our county rarely come in to contact with crime – and who want a different service from their police force.

"Everyone’s view, and everyone’s experience, is important."

The Police and Crime Plan will help make sure Wiltshire Police and the PCC’s office coordinate and work towards the same goals.

It will also be the way the PCC holds the Chief Constable to account for delivering on its pledges.

How to take part

The survey is open from Monday, October 18 and will remain open until midnight on Sunday, November 14.

The feedback will be analysed and used to inform the draft plan.

In December and January, both the PCC and DPCC will hold a series of events to gather feedback on the draft from interested parties.

Members of the public will also be able to download the draft plan from the PCC website and provide feedback.

The plan will finally be in place after Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Panel vote on it, around February 2022.

You can fill in the online survey here: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GS3CLXY or feedback can be emailed to pcc-consultation@wiltshire.police.uk

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