The core components of a comprehensive savings plan – informed by Wiltshire Police – has been outlined today in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s budget for 2025/26.

The draft Budget papers for the 2025/6 financial year have been published ahead of next week’s Wiltshire Police and Crime Panel meeting to scrutinise the proposals.

Despite previously identifying savings of £1.2m for 2025/26, the Home Office grant funding announced last month means the Force is left with a budgetary deficient of an additional £5.2m.

Notwithstanding these financial challenges, Chief Constable Catherine Roper has committed to not reducing police officer numbers, improving visibility in communities and public access to the services the Force provides.

Chief Constable Roper said: “The financial situation poses challenges and we are having to review how we deliver our service to the public.

“However, our priority is ensuring that we limit the impact on how we deliver our frontline, operational services as much as we are able. To this end, there will be no reduction in our police officer numbers, and I am committed to moving our frontline resources to those places the public need us the most.

“Our focus and energy remain fixed on Keeping Wiltshire Safe. We will be focused on our resilience, visibility and managing our resources responsibly to respond to those incidents posing the greatest threat, harm and risk to our communities.

“The PCC and I are clear that we will not lose momentum in the strides we’ve made in improving the standard of service we deliver and our community engagement.

“Our savings proposals are focused primarily on efficiencies with our estate footprint, rationalising our vehicle numbers and, where we must look at our people, our aim is to reduce numbers by not recruiting into non-operational vacancies.

“No police station with a public front counter will be affected and we will be increasing the use of our mobile police stations and our attendance at local events to ensure our visibility within communities continues to increase.

“We will also be focusing on our procurement and collaboration arrangements and continuing to grip our operating efficiencies – such as overtime and day to day expenditure.

“Wiltshire Police is not an outlier in this situation- every police force in the country is facing significant financial challenges.”

The Force is developing a comprehensive, three-year savings plan to ensure it continues to operate as efficiently as possible while continuing to improve the service the public receive.

This work is being progressed through a dedicated review programme delivered by one of the Force’s Assistant Chief Constables.

Chief Constable Roper added: “I would like to reassure our communities that we remain committed to continuing to make significant improvements to our service - ensuring Wiltshire Police becomes one of the most effective and efficient forces in the country.

“We continue to work closely with the Police and Crime Commissioner to ensure the funding we receive is used effectively and efficiently to keep the public safe, reduce crime and deliver the Police and Crime Plan.”

Wiltshire Police is inviting community members to help shape the future of the Force by joining one of our Independent Advisory Groups. You can find out more information here.

The Chief’s first Facebook Live event of 2025 will take place on January 20 from 6.30pm where she will be answering questions from the public on the financial challenges we face and the savings plan. Questions can be submitted in advance via the Wiltshire Police Facebook page.