On the first anniversary of the Manchester bombing, officers and staff at Wiltshire Police were joined by the Police and Crime Commissioner to observe a minute’s silence.

Public buildings across the country fell silent at 2.30pm on Tuesday, midway through a national service of remembrance at Manchester Cathedral attended by Prince William and the Prime Minister. The silence was observed outside the force’s Devizes HQ.

Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: “We are pausing to remember the 22 people who went to a pop concert in Manchester a year ago and lost their lives.

“Wiltshire Police responded without hesitation to a call for support from Greater Manchester Police.

"We swiftly despatched eight officers as part of the national programme of mutual aid.

“In the days that followed the carnage at Manchester Arena, our officers - alongside colleagues from many forces - provided reassurance to the people of the city.

“They were also on duty to look after the safety of tens of thousands of fans at two concerts at the Etihad Stadium in the city and at a special tribute concert.

“It’s an example of the work that goes on ‘beyond the beat’ to help colleagues in other parts of the country at a time of crisis.

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said: “The terrible events in Manchester a year ago created a sense of shock across the country because the bomber struck at the end of a pop concert which had been enjoyed by thousands of children and young people.

“We can be proud that Wiltshire Police officers were deployed quickly to Manchester and that they spent days in the city, helping to reassure the public and keep them safe.

“By observing the national silence, we can stop and reflect on the lives tragically cut short that evening; on those who lost loved ones; and on the police, the paramedics and others who witnessed such ghastly scenes as they fought to save lives.”

One of the Wiltshire officers despatched to Manchester was Det Sgt Adam Leakey, who is based at Gablecross Police Station in Swindon, and was deployed to the Etihad Stadium.

He said: “Our duty was to provide community reassurance to the 50,000-strong crowd attending two Robbie Williams concerts; assisting stewards with bag searches and ensuring the fans dispersed safely and quickly.”

Sgt Liam Winstone, of Swindon South Community Policing Team, was also deployed to the Etihad Stadium.

He said: “The response from the public at the concerts was incredible, I have never been thanked so much for just being there and doing my job.

“I felt a little embarrassed to receive this praise and made a point of informing the public that I was from Wiltshire and it was the Greater Manchester Police officers they needed to thank. The response was that they were thanking us all for the job we did.

“As the crowd was leaving the stadium at the conclusion of the Saturday evening concert, we received news of the attack on London Bridge.

"We managed the safety of the crowd firmly and empathetically, ensuring that we did not raise alarm.

“PC James Rodrigues and I walked into St Ann’s Square which was carpeted with floral tributes.

"It was very sobering to stand in silence with many other people, looking at the huge swathe of flowers.

“The reaction of the Manchester public towards us was very warm, even more so when they learned where we were from.”

PC Steve Carroll, from the Wiltshire North Community Policing Team based in Royal Wootton Bassett, was born at Salford in Greater Manchester.

In the aftermath of the attack he presented a shield with the inscription “Together We Stand” to an assistant chief constable at Greater Manchester Police as a symbol of solidarity.

He and his Wiltshire North colleague PC Jamie Ball also visited St Ann’s Square. 4 Media Release PC Carroll said: “It was surreal – a peaceful moment on a normally very vibrant, busy street. “We just stood in silence and appreciated all the love that Manchester has got. How the city came together was amazing.”