The police has launched their latest bid to tackle sexual offences, with criminals firmly in their crosshairs.

Wiltshire Police has launched its Vigilant Communities scheme, which aims to encourage people to report concerning behaviour.

They say Neighbourhood Policing Teams, local authorities, CCTV operators, companies and community groups will work together to sport predatory behaviour.

Detective Inspector Troy Smith said: "We want to drive down sexual violence and make our Wiltshire streets a hostile place for predators to operate.

"We know that nearly all serious sexual offenders have carried out non-contact sexual offences such as stalking, indecent exposures and voyeurism."

He continued: "We want to create 'Vigilant Communities' that can help us to gather intelligence on those individuals who make women and girls feel frightened and vulnerable."

Vigilant Communities has been launched this September because forces typically see a rise in indecent exposure reports across the country around this time of year.

Similar to previous years, Wiltshire has received a number of reports of stranger approaches and concerning sexualised behaviour in public spaces. 

Wiltshire Police say those signed up to the programme will receive detailed training an advice on how to spot predatory behaviour.

The behaviours they have highlighted include, but are not limited to:

  • sober men hanging around pubs and approaching drunk women;
  • cars circling nightclubs, youth clubs, schools and colleges, or when drivers have no reason to be there; 
  • intoxicated women being led along the street by a sober men;
  • and men loitering outside a café of takeaway, watching, or making comments to women and girls as they pass by.

The police typically see a rise in sexual crime as the days shorten this time of year (Image: Annette Shaw) The police say they want people to report when something "does not feel right" and to help gather intelligence on those who pose a risk of causing sexual harm.

The Detective Inspector stressed that people should not feel they need to intervene, especially if it could cause them harm.

DI Smith said: "It's a bit like a jigsaw puzzle. We are trying to collect all the pieces to complete the picture and we need everyone to help us do this. 

"If someone is assaulted, they must live on with the trauma, left to cope with feelings of shame, guilt, anger, resentment, fear, shame, isolation."

The Detective Inspector asserted: "We want to drive down sexual violence and make our Wiltshire streets a hostile place for predators to operate.

"Having vigilant guardians in our communities will make a real difference and help us keep people safe."

Vigilant Communities comes as the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is funding free Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) and Licensing SAVI training to night-time economy staff across Wiltshire and Swindon. 

The training sits within the Police and Crime Commissioner's priority to create safer streets in Wiltshire.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson speaking with Chief Constable Catherine Roper (Image: Newsquest) Home Office money has been invested to fund night-time economy wardens in Trowbridge and Salisbury on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as providing funding for four deployable CCTV cameras in the city.

Additional CCTV has been funded in Chippenham town centre and improved lighting and CCTV in Swindon. 

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said:  "This training brings together venues across Wiltshire and Swindon to allow them to take responsibility for their customers and create safer and more supportive environments."

DCI Thorne who leads the VAWG team at Wiltshire Police added: “We have previously discussed our commitment to recommendations from the Angiolini Inquiry which relates to the inquiry into Wayne Couzens."

Thorne continued: "We are committed in Wiltshire to do all we can to make our community safer for all of the public with a particular focus on women and girls.

"We ask for the community's help in identifying those behaviour types you may see and to report this to us."

People have been told to report through the Wiltshire Police website or by calling 101, giving as much information as possible and mentioning ‘Vigilant Communities’ so that the right people receive your message.