THE new way of policing in Trowbridge has come under fire from town councillors, who say they have seen a lack of on-the-beat officers since it came into force last year.

Their comments were made at the annual full council meeting, where councillors were invited to comment on the pilot scheme, which began in the town and in the Warminster area in September.

One of the biggest changes saw the scrapping of neighbourhood policing teams in place of a community team, which the force said brought together the skills and experience of smaller teams. The community team now includes neighbourhood policing, 999 response call officers, investigators, call handlers and dispatchers.

Councillors believe the changes have meant there are fewer police officers visible on the streets of Trowbridge, as well as a lack of engagement with the town council from officers attending their meetings.

Cllr Graham Payne raised further concerns about a recent article in the Mail on Sunday which mentioned Trowbridge as part of the expansion of a London drug trade.

He said: “I was disturbed that Trowbridge was included in the article as being a new hotbed for drug crime in the South West.

“When we put the concerns to police before, they have said they are very vigilant but they could rely on more intelligence from the public.”

Councillors also criticised the format in which the police present their monthly round-up and have asked that in future, they are given numbers to show a clear increase/decrease in crime rates.

Wiltshire Police have said since initiating the pilot, they have continually reviewed their progress including their increased emphasis on technology which aims to improve contact for victims and witnesses as well as update residents on recent crimes.

They hope their daily updates on www.wiltsmessaging.co.uk resolves this.

Supt Chris Chammings said: “We have encouraged and welcomed feedback on the pilot, so that it can continuously evolve and improve, providing a better service for the public. We are confident that this model is delivering an improved and more flexible service in the pilot area, at a time when Wiltshire Police is having to respond to the changing profile of criminality and an increasing and more diverse demand.

“We are concerned and disappointed that members of Trowbridge Town Council have raised these issues and Inspector James Brain will meet with them as soon as possible to discuss them in more detail.”

Trowbridge Town Council resolved to invite Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson to one of their upcoming meetings.