A new police station for Salisbury and the South?

Residents in and around Salisbury are being invited to an engagement event to talk about the options for a new police station which will serve the south of the county.

In the summer Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson announced work to deliver an improved policing service in the south of the county, which included a new station, had taken a step forward with possible locations and solutions actively being explored.

Now, the Commissioner, alongside Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Kier Pritchard and other senior police officers and executives, want to update residents, and other interested parties, about the work carried out so far and give the public a chance to discuss further details of the options on the table.

The engagement will take place at Salisbury Guildhall on 31st October 2022, from 7-8.30pm. Residents can secure a place in person by using an online booking system.

A livestream will be available for those unable to attend as well as a recording to watch after the event on the OPCC’s digital channels.

Mr Wilkinson said, “We know to provide Salisbury and the south with the police service they want, and deserve, will require compromise somewhere, be that location, configuration or simply balancing operational policing guidance with the city’s aspirations and the finances available to me.

“Both the Chief Constable and I want Salisbury’s communities to have officers who are able to operate effectively, with the ability of neighbourhood policing teams to be more visible and accessible to the public and we will work together to deliver this.

“I have always been clear that we should engage with residents in the south at every opportunity so they can hear from those people in charge of making decisions on their behalf, so they can see and hear the detail but also so that they can have their views heard and listened to.

“I would really encourage those people with an active interest in policing in the south of the county to come along, listen to the options available and give their views.”

In November last year, the Commissioner announced the results of Wiltshire Police’s operational review of the policing estate in the south of the county. It revealed the current Salisbury base at Bourne Hill wasn’t fit-for-purpose in its current format.

Since then, a project team has identified and scoped the possibility of several sites in the Salisbury vicinity which could house a new city station, alongside other key functions, needed to deliver a quality, frontline, police service which meets the needs of its communities.

The team have been working on three different proposals:

Chief Constable Kier Pritchard added, “The current working environment used by my officers and staff based in the south of the county isn’t fit for purpose. I have carefully assessed what is needed from an operational perspective to ensure that we have facilities in place that meet the needs of policing in the 21st century.

"My operational advice to the PCC is that a new police station within the vicinity of Salisbury, or surrounding area, should be sought so that we are better able to meet the needs of our communities and provide a better working environment for our officers and staff in the south of the county.”

Residents can secure their spot, on a first-come, first-served basis, at the 200-place seated event by clicking here.

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