58-875: The County Police Act 1839 ( 2 & 3 Vict. c. 93) (also known as the Rural Police Act or the Rural Constabularies Act ) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . It was one of the Police Acts 1839 to 1893 . The Act enabled Justices of the Peace in England and Wales to establish police forces in their counties. The Act was not compulsory, and constabularies were only established in 25 out of 55 counties by 1856, when
116-540: A bill to the House of Commons in February 1840. Maule outlined the problems: "...difficulties had arisen from the mode of payment provided for carrying into effect the regulations of the act, by levying it out of the county rates; a difficulty as to that provision had arisen in various counties, in which certain districts only had adopted the act. In counties, also, in which there were isolated portions of other counties, it
174-695: A new "police rate". The main provisions of the Act were: By 1851 constabularies had been formed to cover all or part of the following counties: 2 %26 3 Vict. Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.237 via cp1104 cp1104, Varnish XID 211587541 Upstream caches: cp1104 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 07:57:18 GMT Wiltshire Constabulary Wiltshire Police , formerly known as Wiltshire Constabulary ,
232-487: A quasi-police force. The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 standardised the structure and responsibilities of borough councils in England and Wales, including requiring they provide a professional police force. The Act applied both to new boroughs formed on application in large industrial cities, and to 178 already incorporated boroughs, including Salisbury (officially known as New Sarum until 2009). The New Sarum Police
290-624: A registered charity which operates its own helicopter; the charity leased the Devizes airbase until it moved to a newly built base near Melksham in June 2018. Between 2013 and 2019, a collaboration with the Avon & Somerset and Gloucestershire forces covered roads policing, firearms and police dogs. As of 20 August 2021 , the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)
348-469: A result, Wiltshire became the first county to use the provisions of the Act to form a county-level police force, with Wiltshire Constabulary being established on Wednesday 13 November 1839 at The Bear Hotel, Devizes , mere hours before the second ( Gloucestershire ). Wiltshire Constabulary's first chief constable was Captain Samuel Meredith , a distinguished Royal Navy officer. An advertisement
406-624: Is Philip Wilkinson. The police and crime commissioner is scrutinised by the Wiltshire Police and Crime Panel, made up of elected councillors from the local authorities in the police area. Before the first PCC was elected in 2012, the force was under the local oversight of the Wiltshire Police Authority. The police authority had nine councillor members, who were appointed from Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council , and eight independent members, one of whom
464-524: Is also a police post at Leigh Delamere services on the M4. In 2021, ten former station buildings were offered for sale, namely Marlborough, Malmesbury, Warminster, Highworth, Westbury, Cricklade, Alderbury, Calne, Pewsey and Wilton. The facilities at Chippenham (Monkton Park), Corsham (Springfield campus), Salisbury (Bourne Hill) and Tisbury (Nadder Centre) are within Wiltshire Council buildings;
522-492: Is one of the safest counties in the UK, with the 6th lowest crime rate per 1000 people in England. Recorded crime dropped by 7%, or 2,706 crimes, between April 2009 and March 2010. Wiltshire Police's detection rate is 6% higher than average, at 28%. Wiltshire Police also have a favourable public image with the 2nd best in the UK for the public perceptions that police are dealing with anti-social behaviour effectively, and 3rd best in
580-628: Is the territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Wiltshire (including the Borough of Swindon ) in South West England . The force serves 722,000 people over an area of 1,346 square miles (3,490 km ). In terms of officer numbers, it is the second smallest force in the United Kingdom (after the City of London Police ). Prior to the 1830s, policing in Wiltshire
638-646: The 2006 FIFA World Cup . Wiltshire Police responded to a fatal shooting in Savernake Forest on 19 August 1987, which escalated to a further 15 killings in the neighbouring police area ( Thames Valley Police ) and came to be called the Hungerford massacre . Between 2007 and 2011 the Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett was host to the repatriations of fallen service men and women who died in Afghanistan and Iraq . The bodies were brought through
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#1732780638494696-488: The County Police Act 1839 . This established a framework and some government funding for magistrates in a county to form a police force based on London's Metropolitan Police, though there was no requirement for them to do so. In the same year the Act passed, groups of labourers had rioted across Wiltshire over the price of food and the introduction of new farm equipment, starting fires and destroying machinery. As
754-483: The County and Borough Police Act 1856 made their provision mandatory. The legislation was based on the recommendations of a royal commission appointed in 1836 to "inquire into the best means of establishing an efficient constabulary force in the counties of England and Wales". The three members of the commission, or "Constabulary Commissioners" as they were informally called were Colonel Charles Rowan , Commissioner of
812-559: The Home Secretary , Lord John Russell . Russell wrote to the magistrates of the various counties asking them to support the resolution passed in Shropshire to establish a body of constables paid for out of the county rate and under the control of the magistrates. The commission's report, issued in 1839, followed the lines favoured by Russell. It recommended that "a properly trained and equipped preventative police force" based on
870-582: The 2017 review stated a goal to increase the use of shared buildings. In late 2019 and early 2020, officers began using Wiltshire Council libraries in Malmesbury, Westbury , Downton and Wilton as "touchdown" points, to increase contact with the public. Wiltshire Police's headquarters used to be on Bath Road in Devizes, formerly the Wiltshire Militia Stores; it was acquired in 1879 by Wiltshire Police as their headquarter, and nearby
928-615: The Metropolitan Police , Edwin Chadwick and Charles Shaw Lefevre . The commission was appointed against a background of unrest and violence in some areas of the country, with protests against the New Poor Law and agitation by Chartists for social and political reform. Chadwick was strongly in favour of the creation of a single centralised force, but this was opposed by not only the two other commissioners but also by
986-495: The Peace or in which separate County Rates are made". The act was not to extend to the Metropolitan Police District . In order to establish a force in a county, it was necessary for three or more magistrates to make a requisition to the chairman of the quarter sessions to bring the matter to a vote. If the sessions chose to adopt the act they were obliged to prepare a report on the area and population of
1044-749: The Police Memorial Trust has erected 50 memorials nationally to some of those officers. The following officers of Wiltshire Police have died during the course of their duties: The Wiltshire Police Ports Unit was established in April 2000. It is responsible for policing all non-designated airfields in Wiltshire, making sure that legislation is followed, particularly the Terrorism Act 2000 . It also obtains any intelligence on smuggling and contraband. Ports in Wiltshire include Old Sarum Airfield and Clench Common Airfield . The air support unit
1102-503: The Trowbridge Christmas Eve murder in 1925 and escorting Louis Blériot when displaying his famous cross-channel aeroplane. Between July 2022 and May 2024, Wiltshire Police was placed under " special measures " by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary. The Police Roll of Honour Trust and Police Memorial Trust list and commemorate all British police officers killed in the line of duty. Since its establishment in 1984,
1160-680: The UK for the public perceptions that police are dealing with drunk and disorderly behaviour effectively. Drink driving in Wiltshire was highlighted as a problem in the National Summer 2010 Drink Drive Campaign that saw 2.87% of 3377 positive for drink driving in June 2010. However this is a drop of 3.53% from 2009. A report from March 2010 by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary placed Wiltshire Police among 10 forces that were graded as being 'excellent' and improving on reducing crime, 'fair' at protecting citizens from serious harm, and 'fair' for confidence and satisfaction. Wiltshire
1218-457: The act, and on 28 November appointed Commander Samuel Meredith, Royal Navy as chief constable. The appointment was approved on 5 December, and Wiltshire's example was quickly followed by Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Durham. Within a few months of the first county constabularies being formed, a number of problems with the legislation became apparent. Accordingly, the Hon. Fox Maule introduced
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#17327806384941276-478: The allegation of assault in Melksham Custody against Somerville. Andrews claimed that Somerville had grabbed hold of the door frame of the cell and on letting go she had fallen to the floor. Mr Justice Bean declared Somerville was drunk when she was put in the cells and he believed that Andrews did not intend to throw her to the floor. Deputy Chief Constable David Ainsworth, formerly ACC of Kent Police,
1334-592: The boroughs in Wiltshire, spending almost all his £400 salary on travel. The first ranks were only constable and superintendent, but sergeant, inspector, detectives and five classes of constable were later introduced. Notable events for Wiltshire Police in the 19th century include the Rode Hill House murder in 1860 and the bomb explosion outside Salisbury Guildhall in September 1884. In 1909, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary raised concerns over
1392-546: The centre of Wiltshire. The operational headquarters are at Melksham for county division and Gablecross, South Marston , for Swindon division. The emergency communications centres for Wiltshire Police are at Devizes and Gablecross. The SNEN non-emergency call centre is at Devizes. Devizes is also the home of the Dog Squad and the training facilities for all new recruits. There are enquiry offices at Gablecross, Chippenham , Marlborough , Trowbridge , Melksham (south of
1450-473: The county and the existing method of policing. The report would set out how it was proposed to apply the legislation to the county, detailing the number of constables, the divisions of the county and the salaries to be paid and making any additional rules and regulations deemed necessary. The report was then submitted for approval to the Home Secretary who could modify parts of the scheme but did not have
1508-673: The crowd and 22,000 participants. Wiltshire Police took part in Operation Fairline – the multi-agency response to the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in March 2018 at Salisbury – and Operation Fortis, which followed further poisonings in June at Amesbury . They received mutual support from 40 other forces, involving 1,200 officers. By June 2018 the cost of the first incident was estimated at £7.5 million, and in November total costs were projected to be £10.8m. Wiltshire
1566-467: The force was one of six that were subject to this additional scrutiny. A review in December 2022 found a decline in the force's performance in investigating crime effectively. In May 2024, the inspectorate found that the force had made good progress in the three areas of concern and therefore removed the 'Engage' monitoring. In the year 2007/8 complaints and allegations recorded slightly decreased from
1624-583: The former British India , laid the foundation stone of the new Wiltshire Police county headquarters at Devizes . Twice in the 1980s, Wiltshire Police officers had to cover for the prison officers of Erlestoke Prison when they went on strike. In 1985, the force was involved in the Battle of the Beanfield , which prevented a convoy of new age travellers , known as the Peace Convoy , from establishing
1682-527: The fourteenth Stonehenge free festival at Stonehenge . The incident led to accusations of a police riot . Most significantly the 1980s saw the introduction of the Police National Computer , command and control systems and the HOLMES investigation system. Also a national probationary training programme was introduced in all forces for new recruits. Notable events in this century include
1740-477: The lack of a mounted division in the force. As a result, six constables were transferred to the new mounted division, which doubled to 12 the next year. Although the mounted division was not active every day, they were of particular use at the Salisbury Races , ceremonial duties such as escorting judges, and guarding the royal carriage. They were also occasionally loaned to neighbouring forces. The fate of
1798-485: The mounted division is unknown, but it most likely was ended during the introduction of motor vehicles in the 1920s. A roads policing unit was founded on 7 May 1939 at the urging of the Home Secretary. The force did not have a true Criminal Investigation Department until 1936. On 30 June 1857, the Magistrates Committee that oversaw the force expressed interest in forming an investigation department which
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1856-594: The national average. Of the 460, 26% were investigated, 43% came to a resolution and 31% were withdrawn, dispensed with or discontinued. Of the 26% allegations investigated in 2007/8, 91% were unsubstantiated, 2% higher than the national average. In 1985, Wiltshire Police prevented a vehicle convoy of several hundred new age travellers from setting up at the 11th Stonehenge Free Festival at Stonehenge in Wiltshire , after site custodians English Heritage were granted an exclusion zone of 4 miles (6.4 km) around
1914-412: The pattern of the existing Metropolitan Police , should be established in all counties where the magistrates were in favour. Each force should be funded mostly by local rates, with 25% of the cost met by central government. The force would be under the supervision of the county magistrates, who would have the power to employ or remove officers, subject to statutory regulations. The act allowed justices of
1972-487: The peace of any county , in general or quarter sessions , to appoint constables "for the preservation of the peace and protection of the inhabitants" where they felt the existing system of parish constables was insufficient. The constables were to be appointed on a ratio of not more than one officer per one thousand of population. Boroughs operating under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 had
2030-407: The power to alter the number of constables or their salaries. The sessions had the power to choose a chief constable, but his appointment was also subject to the approval of the Home Secretary. In some cases magistrates chose to form a force in only part of a county. The first county to form a constabulary under the 1839 Act was Wiltshire . On 13 November the court of quarter sessions agreed to adopt
2088-497: The power to form their own police force and were to be excluded from the jurisdiction of the county police. In each county where the act was adopted a chief constable was to be appointed. Where a county was divided into two parliamentary divisions by the Reform Act 1832 , a chief constable could be appointed to each division. It was also permitted for one chief constable to be appointed to two or more neighbouring counties. For
2146-546: The previous year. Wiltshire Police has one of the lowest rates for 'incivility' allegations at 11%, but one of the highest for 'oppressive conduct or harassment' at 15% and 'breach of PACE Code C' at 9%. In the same 2007/8 period, Wiltshire Police received 234 complaints and 460 allegations. Wiltshire has an above-average 358 allegations per 100 officers, spread across five categories. Wiltshire Police are 1% or 0% lower on allegations except for 'incivility, impoliteness and intolerance', for which they receive 10% less allegations than
2204-404: The purposes of the act all county exclaves were to be part of the county by which they were surrounded, or with which they had the longest common boundary. All franchises or liberties , other than reformed boroughs were also to come under the county police. A "county" for the purposes of the act was defined as being "any County, Riding or Division having a separate Court of Quarter Sessions of
2262-453: The stones. A violent exchange between the travellers and police in riot gear took place over several hours. Eight police officers and 16 travellers were taken to hospital with minor injuries. One traveller suffered from a fractured skull. As much of the action took place in a field containing a bean crop, the events became known as the Battle of the Beanfield. A sergeant in the Wiltshire Police
2320-538: The town at Hampton Park) and Salisbury . Custody units are at Gablecross and Melksham. The number of other sites was reduced after a 2017 review by the Police and Crime Commissioner. Swindon division has police posts at North Swindon, West Swindon and Swindon Centre. County division has sites at Cricklade , Royal Wootton Bassett , Calne , Malmesbury , Corsham , Bradford on Avon , Warminster , Tisbury , Mere , Devizes , Amesbury , Tidworth and Pewsey . There
2378-576: The town from RAF Lyneham on their way to the John Radcliffe Hospital at Oxford . Wiltshire Police were responsible for policing the crowds and any special events. Officers from Wootton Bassett station received a special award at the Jane's Police Awards for their contribution to policing the repatriations. Police were again praised for policing the 'Ride of Respect' in March 2010, the operation included planning, marshalling and policing
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2436-419: The war, after which it slowly expanded, and in 1997 it had 170 detectives. Salisbury continued to have a separate police force, Salisbury City Police , from the rest of Wiltshire until World War II, when the two were merged. The merger took effect on 1 April 1943 and was initially a temporary measure, but became permanent after the war ended. On 6 July 1961, Sir Charles Carter Chitham , a retired policeman of
2494-513: Was a justice of the peace . The responsible government department is the Home Office . Wiltshire Police has two divisions – Swindon and Wiltshire – incorporating eight Community Policing Team areas. A proposal was made in 2013 to abolish the rank of Chief Inspector, but this proposal was eventually scrapped. The headquarters of Wiltshire Police is at London Road, Devizes , where it has always been because of its geographical position in
2552-463: Was a row of houses where senior officers lived. The building has since been demolished. Wiltshire Police remained at this site for 85 years until the early 1960s when the organization required a larger headquarters and the new building was commissioned on the London Road site, which was opened in 1964. The station at Highworth closed in 2018 and the station (with adjoining house) at Wroughton
2610-469: Was also among 13 forces classed as 'good' for local policing, and 13 forces that received no 'poor' grade in any category. In July 2022, the inspectorate found the force 'inadequate' in three areas: responding to the public, protecting vulnerable people – in particular, victims of domestic abuse – and making use of its resources. Consequently, Wiltshire Police began to be monitored under the 'Engage' process, sometimes called "special measures". At that time,
2668-517: Was an increase from a total of 11 in 2005. The increase resulted in a reduction of arrests at games, with 22 people being arrested attending games in 2005–06 compared to 39 arrests in 2004–05. Of the 22 arrests in 2005–06, 11 were for public disorder, 5 for violent disorder and the rest were made up of offences relating to missile throwing, racist chanting, pitch invasion, alcohol-related offences and one incident of being in possession of an offensive weapon. 33 Swindon fans were banned from travelling to
2726-500: Was arrested near Melksham after being found asleep in her car, for failing to provide a specimen of breath for breath alcohol analysis. The custody officer in Melksham police station, Sergeant Mark Andrews, was accused of assaulting Somerville during her detention, including dragging her through the custody suite and dropping her onto the concrete floor of a detention cell. Andrews was initially found guilty of actual bodily harm and
2784-405: Was difficult to say how those isolated portions were to be dealt with, because they were incorporated in the police districts of another county than that in which they were rated for the payment..." The bill was enacted as the County Police Act 1840 ( 3 & 4 Vict. c. 88). It provided inter alia for the voluntary merging of borough police forces with county constabularies and the levying of
2842-632: Was found dead at his home on 22 March 2011. He had hanged himself. He had been removed from his normal duties while an "internal staff issue" was investigated. Wiltshire Police allowed South Wales Police and the Independent Police Complaints Commission to conduct an inquiry into the matter. The coroner released Wiltshire Police of any burden noting they had implemented 'comprehensive welfare arrangements' for Ainsworth. The independent report criticised Wiltshire Police for failing to properly vet Ainsorth when assuming
2900-490: Was founded in 1836, but was disbanded and reformed only two years later as the Salisbury City Police – the first modern police force to operate in Wiltshire. In the same year, a detachment of London's Metropolitan Police , which had been established in 1829, was called in to control riots. Social unrest in the 1830s led to the appointment in 1836 of a royal commission on policing in the counties, which led to
2958-483: Was founded with three of the 'most intelligent constables'. In 1936, three detective constables and a detective sergeant were appointed, but it was not until 1939 that an official head of the department was appointed, and a detective sergeant was appointed to take charge of new equipment such as that for the Photographic, Printing and Fingerprinting departments. CID remained stagnant in its development until after
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#17327806384943016-539: Was officially created in the spring of 1990, but Wiltshire Police had been renting helicopters since the late 1980s. They experimented with fixed-wing aircraft, a Robinson Beta 22 helicopter and an Aérospatiale Gazelle , but later chose a Bolkow Bo 105 in 1990, which was used for seven years until it was replaced by a McDonnell Douglas MD 902 Explorer . This helicopter was shared with the Great Western Ambulance Service , an arrangement that
3074-407: Was placed to recruit 200 constables who were paid 17/6d a week (£0.875). In those first years, new constables were simply given their uniform and an instruction booklet and then sent off to work without any training or guidance. Wiltshire Constabulary started operating from January 1840 and had filled almost all its posts by the summer. The chief constable spent the first months of his time visiting all
3132-520: Was seen in only one other area of the country. Besides the pilot, the helicopter carried an observer and a paramedic. The air support unit was based at the headquarters in Devizes, where a hangar was built in 1993. In 2014, the unit was merged into the National Police Air Service , meaning the force no longer owned or operated its own helicopter. From January 2015, the air ambulance function separated into Wiltshire Air Ambulance ,
3190-441: Was sentenced to six months in prison and faced dismissal from the police force. Assistant Chief Constable Patrick Geenty criticised his subordinate and apologised to Somerville. On 14 September 2010, Andrews was bailed after serving only six days of his sentence pending an appeal against his conviction to be held at Oxford Crown Court in November 2010. On 18 November 2010, Andrews was cleared of any wrongdoing with regards to
3248-439: Was sold at around the same time. Stations at Alderbury , Westbury and Wilton had closed by March 2020. Swindon Town Football Club on County Road attracts continuous police attention as the club has been known for hooliganism since the 1970s. Swindon Town has imposed banning orders on those supporters who cause disruption, criminal damage or are violent when attending games. There were 29 banning orders in place in 2006, which
3306-493: Was subsequently found guilty of having caused actual bodily harm to a traveller. Members of the convoy sued Wiltshire Police for wrongful arrest, assault and criminal damage as a result of the damage to themselves and their property. David Brudenell-Bruce, Earl of Cardigan who had witnessed the events, gave evidence against the police. After four months of hearings, 21 of the travellers were successful in their case and were awarded £24,000 in damages. In June 2008 Pamela Somerville
3364-516: Was the responsibility of petty and parish constables, who were supervised by magistrates . This was largely ineffective as they were unpaid and untrained, and so independent and forces made up of private citizens such as the Devizes Prosecution Society emerged, and these did not immediately disappear when professional police forces came into being. The Yeomanry Cavalry was active in Wiltshire during this period and utilised as
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