Agenda item

To receive updates from any of the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       Warminster and Villages Community Partnership

·       Warminster Community Police Task Group (CPTG)

·       Warminster Health and Wellbeing Forum

·       Local Youth Network

·       Town and Parish Councils Nominated Representatives

Updates were received from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

The Area Board received a verbal update from Inspector Al Lumley. An overview was provided of the performance over the last 12 months to April 2022, which included the following points:

·       There is currently a review into Stop and Search being conducted regarding ethnicity statistics. The review is on-going and is across Wiltshire.

·       Details were provided regarding Hate Crime in Warminster, with it noted that there has been an increase from previous years. The police are therefore monitoring community tension.

An overview of the local priorities for Warminster was provided, which included the following areas and can be found in the agenda supplement:

·       Westleigh warrants.

·       HMICFRS report findings.

·       Operation Siege and residential burglaries.

An overview of Operation Scorpion was provided, which included the following points:

·       Operation Scorpion is a regional agreement between the five PCC’s and five Chief Constables in the South West regions to make the area a hostile environment for drug supply.

·       Aims include to raise awareness of the negative impact of drugs, identify hotspots in communities and to enhance community police and proactive responses.

An overview of the HMIC PEEL 2021/2022 report was provided, which included the following points:

·       The HMICFRS is an inspection and assessment of police forces, including a rolling assessment (PEEL).

·       Unfortunately, Wiltshire Police did not do well with significant failings identified that need immediate action with 5/8 areas requiring improvement and 3/8 areas being seen to be inadequate.

·       The force is determined to address these areas and comprehensive action has been outlined as to how it will be done.

Following the presentation there was time for the following questions and points to be raised:

·       It was clarified that the Police have three months to improve the areas identified within the bottom measures but it will take longer to reach an outstanding rating.

·       It was clarified that out of the local shed breaks that had taken place, the vast majority had been locked but not very well with tiny padlocks.

·       It was clarified that the drugs seized under the Westleigh warrants were a mix of Class A and B with the quantities found suggesting they were for dealing.

·       It was recognised that the Police call centres have a high turnover of staff, with the pay scales offered not comparative to the private sector.

·       It was stated that the inspection results were a culmination of items with the assessment itself having changed as well as the grading structure. It was also acknowledged that there has been a change in focus for the Police to look at the bigger picture rather than local issues.

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda. It was suggested that when a Fire Service rep cannot make an Area Board meeting that a provided video be shown to highlight the work that had been conducted by the service. It was agreed that this could be arranged with the Democratic Services Officer should these be a suitable length.

·       Warminster and Villages Community Partnership

Cllr Pip Ridout updated that the Warminster and Villages Community Partnership had not had a meeting since lockdown but there is a view to starting up the Partnership again with focus in the winter.

·       Warminster Community Police Task Group (CPTG)

The Area Board noted a written report attached to the agenda, which highlighted the concerns of local people, such as cycling on pavements and speeding. It was stated that the next meeting of the group will likely be in the Police building with the opportunity to join via hybrid means not an option. Apologies were provided to the villages who would have to travel to attend.

·       Local Youth Network

Cllr Tony Jackson informed that a pop-up youth event had taken place in Codford the previous month, which was well attended and received positive feedback. The event was organised by Community First, who have since reported that they have funding available for another event. Corsley or Chapmanslade have been suggested as a potential location for a further event in September.

·       Town and Parish Councils

The area board noted the following written updates that had been attached to the agenda from the following Parish Councils; Sutton Veny, Maiden Bradley and Horningsham. In addition, a written update was provided by Warminster Town Council, which can be found attached to the minutes.

Cllr Neil Carpenter provided a verbal update for Corsley Parish Council, which noted that they had recently completed a review of footpaths, bridal ways and tracks. Additionally, they had agreed as a Parish on a strategy for opening up such routes to horses, cyclists and those on foot as well as doing repairs to all damaged gates with land owners. Signs for horses have also been put up with the support of the National Horse Association.