Police and Crime Commissioner, Angus Macpherson announced today that he has agreed with Chief Constable Mike Veale that Wiltshire Police is to implement a new model of policing across the whole Force which aims to improve the service the public receives.

The Community Policing Team model has been successfully trialled in Trowbridge, Warminster, Bradford on Avon, Westbury, Tisbury and Mere, and will now be rolled out across the county.

It combines the officers in the separate Neighbourhood Policing and Response teams, so that communities have a “One Team” approach to policing.

It also brings together staff and officers from other departments, such as local crime investigators, our 101 and 999 call-takers, and our officers from the Special Constabulary, so crimes are investigated effectively and efficiently from the moment they are reported to us.

The new model also encourages teams to share information about cases, improving communication and local intelligence gathering.

The decision to introduce Community Policing across Wiltshire and Swindon was made by Mr Macpherson and Mr Veale.

Mr Macpherson said: "My role is to give the people of Wiltshire and Swindon the best policing service possible. I set the strategic direction and receive excellent professional advice from Chief Constable Mike Veale.

"The Community Policing pilot has been designed to improve the local policing service, and the evaluation of the pilot in Trowbridge and Warminster was reported to the internal board that I chair earlier this month.

"Community Policing builds on the success of Neighbourhood Policing Teams. It adds to the local community team resources such as local crime investigators, case file builders and call handlers.

"By bringing these teams together, we will provide an improved service to our communities. Another crucial aspect is that the public will have a single point of contact should they become victims of crime.

"I have endorsed the roll-out of Community Policing across the rest of the Force area on a phased basis.

"Evaluation will continue during the roll-out to ensure the needs of our various communities are being served.

"I am keen to receive feedback from the public about how Community Policing is working for them. I can promise that I will listen carefully to the feedback and take action as required.

"This is a return to good old-fashioned policing with locally-based officers responding to urgent calls for assistance, whilst at other times being visible and accessible on their beat.

"This is being done, though, with modern tools. I have made a very large investment in modern technology so officers and staff do not have to return to the police station to catch up with form-filling. Now they can be where I want to see them – out in the community, using laptops and smart phones like many people do to stay connected."

T/Superintendent Chris Chammings, who oversaw the pilot when it was tested last autumn, said the evidence showed that members of the public were getting an improved service.

He said: "Under the current model a case can be passed around a number of people and departments during an investigation, making it difficult for victims and witnesses to know who they can speak to for an update.

"However, this new model reduces that process, encouraging our call-takers to deal with incidents during the initial report – whether that be offering community safety advice or referring them to one of our partner agencies such as the local council – and giving the public a single officer who they can keep in touch with for the duration of the investigation.

"It also means that we can deploy officers more efficiently and effectively, because we no longer have the separate Neighbourhood Policing and Response teams, but instead a larger bank of police officers ready to deal with incidents as they come in."

The Community Policing Team model has made the most of investment in new technology, such as 3G laptops and smart phones, said Mr Veale, meaning officers can work outside the police station and maintain a strong visibility and community presence in the villages, towns and cities they serve.

Mr Veale said: "I am confident this new model is the right way for Wiltshire Police to improve and update the way it serves the community.

"When we launched the pilot we were keen to examine the finer details of the model and have carried out a full evaluation, including a survey of staff and officers, and getting the views of victims of crime, to make sure it has real benefits for the public.

"And I am pleased to say that it has proved successful and we are looking forward to implementing Community Policing across the rest of the county."

Throughout the pilot, Wiltshire Police has been gathering feedback from members of the public, specifically victims of crime, asking them about the service they have received, and says that the new model has given them a more positive experience.

The exact dates for the whole-force introductiion have not yet been confirmed, but will start with the Central hub - Chippenham, Devizes and Melksham - and South (Salisbury and Amesbury), before moving on to include Swindon.

The first stage is expected to begin in the autumn.