THE fact that Wiltshire has the lowest rate of police officers per head in the country “should not come as a surprise”, says the Police and Crime Commissioner of Wiltshire and Swindon.

Angus Macpherson, who has held the post since 2012, said that a reduction in funding is putting officers under pressure, and called on the Government to protect police funding going forwards.

“The figures on police numbers should not come as a surprise given that Wiltshire Police receives the fourth lowest funding of any force,” he said.

“In the circumstances, Chief Constable Mike Veale and his operational officers and staff have been doing – and continue to do – an excellent job.

“The force is managing to a large degree because it is highly civilianised. This is a modern force and many policing roles are undertaken by civilians who do not have – or need – a warrant card to do an effective job.”

Figures have shown that recorded crime was 10% higher in 2016/17 than over the previous year, with large rises in violent crime, sexual offences and robberies.

Mr Macpherson said: “The Chief Constable is advising that we are approaching a tipping point in terms of resilience. I recognise that our officers are under pressure.

“It is greatly to the credit of the Chief and his officers and staff – given the staffing levels we have - that we have seen Wiltshire Police graded as good across the board by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

“We urgently need a fairer funding formula, both locally and nationally.”

Speaking last week, the Wiltshire Police Federation spokesman, Inspector David Ibbott, described the crime figures as “alarming”, and described how “successive governments have piled further responsibilities upon the organisation without the requisite funding to match”.

Explaining the restrictions Wiltshire Police face on funding, Mr MacPherson said: “Locally the police precept is capped at two per cent which perpetuates the low level of funding I can give to the Chief Constable.

“Nationally I have been lobbying at Westminster for rural forces like ours to get a fairer deal. We have seen a two per cent reduction year on year in the policing grant from the government. That means a reduction in real terms of £2m for the next two years.

“We need the Government to honour its pledge to protect police funding.”

Wiltshire Police were approached for comment last week, but have not responded.