Wiltshire’s police and crime commissioner (PCC) has said public trust and confidence in the police will not be rebuilt unless it is tackled across the nation.

Philip Wilkinson's remarks were made following the publication of the State of Policing 2023 report.

The report evaluates the national state of policing, with the new report stressing the need for better victim-centred approaches.

This sentiment was echoed in the National Police Chief Council’s statement on how policing is tackling violence against women and girls, and in an Independent Strategic Oversight Board’s Annual Report about the Police Race Action Plan.

While Mr Wilkinson acknowledged building trust with communities is a core responsibility for Wiltshire Police, he emphasised improvements must be made nationwide.

Progress made by the PCC and the chief constable to ensure vulnerable individuals are protected led to the removal of Wiltshire Police from ‘special measures’ in May.

He said: "While I am proud of the progress that has been made locally in recent years under chief constable Catherine Roper, we both recognise that there is still work to be done so that every victim and witness is receiving the service they deserve, and rightly expect from Wiltshire Police."

The report indicates a lack of public faith in the police, stating without substantial reform to the justice system, victims will continue to struggle to get justice.

Mr Wilkinson continued: "For wholescale change to public confidence and trust, improvements and progress must be seen on a national scale.

"Wiltshire is a safe place to live but we still have some way to go for people to feel safe, which is different altogether than statistics telling them they are safe, but the chief constable and I are determined to work on this."

He welcomed the new government's focus on knife crime and anti-social behaviour, and also appreciated the emphasis on neighbourhood policing outlined in the King’s Speech, which he believes can lead to a boost in public trust in the police.

He added: "I also fully support the chief inspector’s call for greater funding certainty for police forces that multi-year funding settlements would provide.

"The current single-year settlements are not conducive to effective forward planning, and I continue to lobby the government for a system that enables sensible and realistic financial planning, ensuring value for money for the public.

"If we can really start delivering locally - as well as nationally - the public's view point may start to change for the better."