The Wiltshire Police and Crime Panel met on Wednesday 4 February 2026 to approve the Police and Crime Commissioner's budget settlement and precept proposal for the upcoming financial year. The Panel also discussed the findings of the public consultation on the proposed precept increase and received an update on the Panel's communications strategy.

Police and Crime Commissioner's Budget Settlement and Precept Proposal 2026/27

The Panel approved the Police and Crime Commissioner's (PCC) budget for 2026/27, which included a £15 increase in the Band D precept, bringing the total for a Band D property to £298.27. This represents a 5.29 percent increase and is intended to maintain core policing services, address unavoidable cost pressures, and ensure the affordability of agreed capital plans. The decision was made in line with the Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2026/27–2030/31, which prioritises financial sustainability, operational resilience, and controlled transformation over expansion-led growth. The Panel noted that the PCC's office would continue to consult the public on the precept level.

Arguments for the proposal:

• Necessity for core services: The £15 increase was deemed necessary to maintain essential policing services in Wiltshire.
• Addressing cost pressures: The increase would help fund unavoidable cost pressures, primarily related to pay awards and inflation.
• Capital plan affordability: The precept rise was crucial for ensuring the affordability of agreed capital plans, including the Southern Hub/Old Sarum development.
• Financial sustainability: The Medium-Term Financial Strategy provides a realistic, risk-aware, and deliverable framework for sustaining policing during a period of financial pressure and national reform.
• Low comparative precept: Wiltshire's proposed precept would remain one of the lowest in the South West region.

Arguments against the proposal:

• Public pushback: While the majority supported the increase, there was acknowledgement of potential public concern regarding year-on-year precept rises.
• Funding formula inequity: Concerns were raised about the national funding formula, which was seen as disproportionately disadvantaging rural forces like Wiltshire.
• Austerity criticism: One member criticised the prolonged period of austerity in police funding and the imposition of a nationally set cap on precept increases.

Police and Crime Commissioner Consultation on the Policing Precept 2026/27

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson OBE, MPhil presented a summary of the public consultation on the proposed 2026/27 policing precept. He noted that 1,002 responses had been received, a decrease from previous years, which he attributed to ongoing year-round engagement efforts. Of the respondents, 56 percent supported the proposed £15 increase. The PCC highlighted that public priorities for investment included neighbourhood policing (50 percent), improvements in investigative capability (24 percent), protection for vulnerable people (9 percent), road safety (6 percent), and youth engagement initiatives (6 percent).

During the discussion, the Panel thanked the PCC for his update and praised the engagement efforts. Questions were raised about how Wiltshire's consultation results compared to neighbouring forces, with the PCC noting that Wiltshire's prudent financial planning meant extraordinary increases were not required, unlike some neighbouring forces who had applied for higher increases despite receiving greater central government funding. The PCC also expressed his belief that the national funding formula remained fundamentally broken, disproportionately disadvantaging rural forces.

The Panel resolved to note the report and the consultation process.

Communications

It was agreed that the Chairman and the Police and Crime Commissioner would release a joint statement regarding the precept decision.

Forward Work Plan

The Panel noted that a list of topics for future consideration would be presented at their next meeting on 12 March. Members were invited to submit suggestions for topics to the Police and Crime Commissioner's office.

Commissioner's Question Time

The Panel engaged in a wide-ranging discussion with the Police and Crime Commissioner on several key issues:

• The Sentencing Act 2026 and Criminal Justice System Pressures: Concerns were raised about the potential impact of the Sentencing Act 2026, which aims to reduce the prison population by increasing the use of suspended sentences. The Panel noted concerns from the National Police Chiefs' Council that this could lead to an increase in crime and place additional demands on police, probation, and voluntary sector agencies. PCC Philip Wilkinson OBE, MPhil shared these concerns, stating that his office was engaging closely with partner agencies and had discussed these issues at the Wiltshire Criminal Justice Board. He emphasised the need for greater investment in the Criminal Justice System, noting that government funding for police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and probation was increasingly stretched.
• Rehabilitation, Reoffending and Offender Pathways: The Panel queried whether the PCC's office was aware of Myrtos Consultancy, an organisation specialising in placing ex-offenders into employment, and whether Wiltshire could explore opportunities to improve Integrated Offender Management (IOM). The Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), Naji Darwish, explained that the Criminal Justice Board was mapping gaps in services such as employment and skills. The PCC highlighted a successful regional initiative from Devon and Cornwall, now a national programme, where prisoners undertook construction work on new homes while on day release, providing them with trade skills and pathways to accommodation.
• Rural Crime and Serious Organised Crime: Details were sought about measures to tackle serious organised crime, including a recent incident where an officer was struck by a high-powered catapult. The PCC explained his role as a board member of the National Rural Crime Network and his upcoming appointment as Co-Chair of the Serious Organised Crime Portfolio Group, where he would represent rural policing concerns. He emphasised Wiltshire's whole force approach to rural crime and noted that arrest rates in hare coursing cases had significantly improved. Regarding the specific incident, the PCC stated that enquiries were ongoing and the offender was likely connected to broader serious organised criminal activity.
• Speeding, Road Safety and Enforcement: The Panel inquired about speed enforcement plans, including the potential expansion of automatic numberplate recognition (ANPR) cameras in urban residential areas. The PCC reported a significant increase in speeding enforcement since he took office, with efforts including targeted operations at high-risk sites. He also highlighted proactive work to tackle concerns about heavy goods vehicles failing to comply with road weight limits.
• Knife Crime: In response to concerns following a fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old in Chippenham, the PCC reported on high-visibility patrols, the deployment of a mobile police station, and school visits as part of the Blunt Truth Programme. He commended the strong community response and the professionalism of the neighbourhood policing team.
• Hotspot Policing: The PCC expressed concern that the withdrawal of grant funding for Hotspot Policing would impact the ability to sustain overtime patrols in town centres and extended visibility operations. He stated that the OPCC was exploring whether local resources could be identified, in partnership with local authorities.
• National Police Air Service (NPAS): The PCC reiterated his longstanding concerns about the value for money offered by NPAS, arguing that regional requirements could be met by a single airbase. He reported that forces in the South West were exploring legal options regarding charges for fixed-wing aircraft and that he was lobbying to extract Wiltshire Police from the Section 22 collaboration, though only the Home Secretary could end the agreement.

Future Meeting Dates

The next meeting of the Police and Crime Panel was scheduled for Thursday 12 March 2026 at 10:30 am in the Kennet Room, County Hall. Future meeting dates were also confirmed.