Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 23 October 2026

Chief Constable fortnightly update to the Police and Crime Commissioner - 23 October 2026

Dear Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson,

Reducing and preventing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a key operational priority for Wiltshire Police and is a central commitment within your Police and Crime Plan. 

We are determined to make women and girls feel safer in our communities, relentlessly pursue perpetrators and ensure victims receive the support they deserve.

We will do this by working ever closer with your office, our partners and communities to strengthen our response.

Earlier today, I participated in the first Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Summit at Marlborough College. We were honoured that this event was attended by Her Majesty Queen Camilla, who expressed her personal commitment and support for our collective work in Wiltshire.

Welcomed by Lady Lansdowne, Chair of EVAWG, the central theme was keeping victims’ voices at the heart of our work. Victims must feel heard, supported and believed, and their experiences must shape how we investigate crime, respond to those seeking help and improve our services.

Policing has a vital role in preventing offending, pursuing perpetrators and protecting victims, but lasting change requires collective action across society. The summit gave us an invaluable opportunity to share learning, challenge our thinking and strengthen partnerships.

Hosted by Hetti Barkworth-Nanton CBE, and panel sessions expertly chaired by broadcaster Fiona Bruce, the event included thought-provoking contributions from speakers and panelists. Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips MP outlined the national work underway to protect victims and strengthen the response to VAWG, reinforcing the need for agencies to work together to support victims and hold offenders to account.

Dame Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, highlighted the challenges of the criminal justice system, and campaigner and broadcaster Zara McDermott spoke candidly about her experience of sexual assault and emerging online harms, including cyberflashing and intimate image abuse. 

The summit also highlighted the role men and boys can play in preventing VAWG. Lee Chambers, Founder and CEO of Male Allies UK, encouraged practical allyship and shared responsibility for challenging harmful behaviours and attitudes. I was pleased to see many male officers and staff from Wiltshire Police contributing to this discussion.

Attendees were challenged by Laura Richards, a Criminal Behaviour Analyst and presenter of the ‘Crime Analyst’ podcast to reflect as to how we can all recognise coercive and controlling behaviour. She also gave insights to how the criminal justice process often negatively impacts victims.

I had the honour of representing Wiltshire Police in a fireside chat with Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe. We reflected on the national and local progress of delivering a victim-centred police response. The day closed with an expect panel answering questions from the audience. 

Over the past 12 months, we have continued to strengthen Wiltshire Police’s response to VAWG by:

The summit reinforced that tackling VAWG must remain a local and national priority. Although progress is being made, there is much more to do. I left encouraged by the commitment shown and determined that Wiltshire Police will continue to play its full part in creating safer communities for women and girls.

That same commitment to prevention, safeguarding and listening to lived experience also shaped another important national conversation this week, focused on how policing can better support children and young people.

On Thursday, I hosted the annual National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Children and Young Persons Conference in Swindon. 

As the National Policing lead for Children and Young Persons, I am committed to ensuring we continue to strengthen our child-centred policing approach. This is outlined in the national Children and Young People (CYP) Charter we launched at the event last year. This is a central pillar of the Children and Young Person Policing Strategy.

During the event this week, the Youth Endowment Fund presented the latest findings from the CYP Self-Assessment. We are pleased to confirm that all 43 forces and the British Transport Police completed the self-assessment, providing a benchmark for child-centred policing for the first time. 

Attendees, which included representatives across policing, other law enforcement agencies, partners and charities, also heard from a range of inspirational and thought-provoking speakers from the Centre for Justice Innovation, the Youth Justice Legal Centre, Counter Terrorism, the Kings Trust and ‘Your Police’. All presentations focussed on challenging and supporting us all to work collectively to reduce adultification, strengthen child-centred practice, and avoiding assumptions about children’s levels of maturity. In short, to recognise that children with whom we come into contact with, are children and must be recognised and supported as such.

I would like to thank everyone involved in the conference for their contributions and for helping shape how policing can better engage with and support young people. 

Finally, I wanted to end this fortnight’s update with a round-up of all the recognition that has been presented to colleagues in Wiltshire Police over the last few weeks. 

This has included:

Insp Holloway was recognised for the vital contribution she has made in advancing the health and safety of colleagues through intervention, innovation and commitment to continuous improvement. Insp Holloway was also recently presented with a Police Federation Unsung Hero award for her dedication to improving officer wellbeing.

A huge well done to all the award winners and thank you for your continued dedication to Keeping Wiltshire Safe.

In the last few weeks, I have also been lucky enough to attend various events highlighting the incredible contribution of our volunteers and those employers who support our Special Constabulary. This included National Cadet Week at the start of the month, the Employer Supported Policing Day on October 15, and the Neighbourhood Watch AGM last week which you and I attended, Commissioner.

Thank you to every single person who supports Wiltshire Police in delivering our service across the county.

Kindest regards to you,

Catherine Roper

Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police