Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The government juggernaut rumbles on.
The six options Wiltshire Constabulary submitted were:

1. For Wiltshire to remain as a stand alone force but to generate extra resources for fighting serious crime and terrorism through collaboration and partnership arrangements.

2. To join with Avon and Somerset and Gloucestershire.

3. To join with Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire and Dorset.

4. To join with Gloucestershire and Dorset.

5. To 'federate' with Gloucestershire and Dorset which would lead to closer working arrangements and combine some operational and back office resources.

6. A strategic amalgamation of the resources of the region’s five forces.

The Home Office, however, has decided that the two options considered most suitable for progression at this stage are:

1. Two strategic forces: Devon and Cornwall as standalone strategic force, with Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset as the other strategic force within the Region.

2. A Regional strategic police force for the whole of the South West.

Martin Richards, Chief Constable of Wiltshire Constabulary commented: "I welcome the letter from the Home Office which seeks to provide clarity with regard to the options that the Force and Region should pursue. The decisions on the future of Wiltshire Constabulary are far from over and we are very keen to hear the views from members of the public across the County and they can email us with their views. In the meantime, I will be working closely with our Police Authority and with Chief Constables in the region, to closely examine these options."

The Chairman of Wiltshire Police Authority, Mr Bertie Woolnough, commented: "Wiltshire Constabulary remains one of the highest performing Forces in the country, and benefits from having one of the lowest rates of crime across the country."

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