Wiltshire Police have called on people to become a "critical friend" to officers and contribute to local safety.
Members of the public can play an active role in shaping and informing policing in their area by joining their local Independent Advisory Group (IAG).
Unlike other, more formal groups that offer advice and guidance to the police such as scrutiny panels, IAGs do not offer expert or specialist advice, but simply come together to share their individual and independent viewpoints.
In Wiltshire there have six IAGs split geographically across the county, aligned to local Community Policing Teams (CPTs) and one Diverse Communities IAG which covers the county:
1. North IAG - Chippenham, Royal Wootton Bassett, Cricklade, Malmesbury, Calne, Corsham
2. Swindon North IAG Penhill, Pinehurst, Rodbourne, Rodbourne Cheney, Moredon, Gorsehill
3. Swindon South IAG Walcot, Parks, Swindon Town Centre
4. Central IAG Devizes, Westbury, Warminster, Marlborough, Mere, Tisbury
5. South IAG Salisbury, Amesbury, Tidworth, Wilton, Alderbury
6. West IAG Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon, Melksham
7. Diverse Communities IAG: A particular focus on diversity and the protected characteristics as covered by the Equality Act 2000
The West IAG are looking for applications from members of the public representing Bradford on Avon, Melksham and Trowbridge.
The group's Nick Westbrook said: "We are a very diverse group of individuals, meeting every couple of months to act as a ‘critical friend’ to constructively advise and challenge Wiltshire Police about local policies, procedures and activities.
“Our role is to identify ways to make policing better for all in the market towns and surrounding villages covered by the Community Police Team supporting Bradford on Avon, Melksham and Trowbridge.
“Over the past three years, we have contributed advice on such topics as stop-and-search, the 101 Call Centre, domestic abuse, anti-social behaviour, county lines (drugs), Speedwatch, hate crime, use of Tasers, the local police response to managing the COVID-19 guidance and large scale protests . Most recently we have promoted police action to tackle pet crime, leading to the setting up of Wiltshire Dogwatch. "
Meanwhile, Central IAG would welcome applications from individuals from the Warminster, Tisbury and Mere areas as well as those who would like to represent the diversity within our communities
“The role of Independent Advisory Groups (IAG) are crucial in enabling community contributions to important policing matters", said IAG chair Kelly Higson.
“Acting as a critical friend to Wiltshire Police, members of our IAG, who all generously volunteer their time, provide diversity of thought, community insights and views on topics such as Stop and Search, the use of spit hoods, County Lines and hate crime.
“Over the last three years, we’ve seen the positive impact of our IAGs collective views. These have helped shape and inform Wiltshire Police’s policies, processes and response to improved community engagement, particularly of our diverse communities and how policing is perceived.
“I’m keen to increase our active membership so that it’s fully representative of the breadth of diversity within our communities.”
Wiltshire Police Inspector Gill Hughes, who works with the West IAG group, said: 'If you care for what happens in your area and have time to spare, please do consider getting involved in your local IAG. As a voice into your local policing team, you can help improve the view from the whole of the community with your independent input. For example, the recent introduction of the Dog watch scheme was an idea presented by a member of the Trowbridge team. In a very short time it was created for the whole force area and has rapidly been adopted across our neighbourhoods.'
The South IAG are recruiting members to represent the views and opinions of people from the Amesbury area.
If you are thinking about volunteering please consider becoming a member of an IAG. This is your chance to contribute to the way Police work with the community you live in. As a member of an IAG, your input will help us to be more effective, to engage better with our public, and respond better to the needs of the community. For more information about the role and how to apply visit https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/police-forces/wiltshire-police/areas/about-us/about-us/independent-advisory-groups/
Wiltshire Police have called on people to become a "critical friend" to officers.
Members of the public can play an active role in shaping and informing policing in their area by joining their local Independent Advisory Group (IAG).
Unlike other, more formal groups that offer advice and guidance to the police such as scrutiny panels, IAGs do not offer expert or specialist advice, but simply come together to share their individual and independent viewpoints.
In Wiltshire there have six IAGs split geographically across the county, aligned to local Community Policing Teams (CPTs) and one Diverse Communities IAG which covers the county:
1. North IAG - Chippenham, Royal Wootton Bassett, Cricklade, Malmesbury, Calne, Corsham
2. Swindon North IAG Penhill, Pinehurst, Rodbourne, Rodbourne Cheney, Moredon, Gorsehill
3. Swindon South IAG Walcot, Parks, Swindon Town Centre
4. Central IAG Devizes, Westbury, Warminster, Marlborough, Mere, Tisbury
5. South IAG Salisbury, Amesbury, Tidworth, Wilton, Alderbury
6. West IAG Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon, Melksham
7. Diverse Communities IAG: A particular focus on diversity and the protected characteristics as covered by the Equality Act 2000
The West IAG are looking for applications from members of the public representing Bradford on Avon, Melksham and Trowbridge.
The group's Nick Westbrook said: "We are a very diverse group of individuals, meeting every couple of months to act as a ‘critical friend’ to constructively advise and challenge Wiltshire Police about local policies, procedures and activities.
“Our role is to identify ways to make policing better for all in the market towns and surrounding villages covered by the Community Police Team supporting Bradford on Avon, Melksham and Trowbridge.
“Over the past three years, we have contributed advice on such topics as stop-and-search, the 101 Call Centre, domestic abuse, anti-social behaviour, county lines (drugs), Speedwatch, hate crime, use of Tasers, the local police response to managing the COVID-19 guidance and large scale protests . Most recently we have promoted police action to tackle pet crime, leading to the setting up of Wiltshire Dogwatch. "
Meanwhile, Central IAG would welcome applications from individuals from the Warminster, Tisbury and Mere areas as well as those who would like to represent the diversity within our communities
“The role of Independent Advisory Groups (IAG) are crucial in enabling community contributions to important policing matters", said IAG chair Kelly Higson.
“Acting as a critical friend to Wiltshire Police, members of our IAG, who all generously volunteer their time, provide diversity of thought, community insights and views on topics such as Stop and Search, the use of spit hoods, County Lines and hate crime.
“Over the last three years, we’ve seen the positive impact of our IAGs collective views. These have helped shape and inform Wiltshire Police’s policies, processes and response to improved community engagement, particularly of our diverse communities and how policing is perceived.
“I’m keen to increase our active membership so that it’s fully representative of the breadth of diversity within our communities.”
Wiltshire Police Inspector Gill Hughes, who works with the West IAG group, said: 'If you care for what happens in your area and have time to spare, please do consider getting involved in your local IAG. As a voice into your local policing team, you can help improve the view from the whole of the community with your independent input. For example, the recent introduction of the Dog watch scheme was an idea presented by a member of the Trowbridge team. In a very short time it was created for the whole force area and has rapidly been adopted across our neighbourhoods.'
The South IAG are recruiting members to represent the views and opinions of people from the Amesbury area.
If you are thinking about volunteering please consider becoming a member of an IAG. This is your chance to contribute to the way Police work with the community you live in. As a member of an IAG, your input will help us to be more effective, to engage better with our public, and respond better to the needs of the community. For more information about the role and how to apply visit https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/police-forces/wiltshire-police/areas/about-us/about-us/independent-advisory-groups/
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