All Wiltshire Police enquiry offices have been temporarily closed in a move to protect both the public and our officers and staff.
The decision has been made following the latest Government advice on social distancing and staying at home as part of the ongoing fight against coronavirus.
However, we want people to be reassured that they will still be able to contact us through a variety of means, including the 999 emergency and 101 non-emergency numbers, our website, and using the yellow phones positioned outside our enquiry offices.
The temporary closure will also include the police desks within the front counter services at our shared premises at Monkton Park, in Chippenham, and Bourne Hill, in Salisbury.
At the moment, the Wiltshire Council enquiry offices at these sites will remain open as a necessary contact point for vulnerable people.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Swindon and Wiltshire Angus Macpherson said: “The Government advice is clear – all non-essential social interactions need to stop, and one way that we as a police force can help with that, is by introducing these temporary closures.
“Footfall at our enquiry offices has fallen dramatically in recent days, and there are a number of other, more appropriate ways that people can contact the police at this time.
“Calling us or visiting the Wiltshire Police website is safer for everyone. Not only will it keep the public safe, but it will allow us to redeploy those staff who usually work on a front counter, to a more critical role.”
Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: “I want to reassure people that this is a temporary measure and I hope people will see that we have made this decision for very practical and safety-conscious reasons.
“This will not impact our visibility in your communities. Our police stations are still running as normal, and you will continue to see our Community Policing Teams out and about on patrol and responding to 999 and 101 calls.
“I want to thank you all for you continued support for Wiltshire Police. These are unprecedented times, and I know there will be challenges and uncertainty ahead, but we are committed to providing the very best service to the communities of Swindon and Wiltshire.”
Anyone who has a pre-arranged, essential appointment at a police station can attend as normal, but use the yellow phone outside to alert an officer or member of staff.