GLOUCESTERSHIRE police chiefs’ decision to set up their own traffic policing and dogs unit will have little effect on Wiltshire, the county’s police commissioner has said.

The Gloucestershire force will partially leave the Tri-Force policing collaboration by next April, it is understood. Tri-Force is a collaboration between Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire police forces to provide and train armed officers, traffic officers and dogs unit across the three counties.

The move was agreed earlier this year by police and crime commissioners and chief constables at the forces.

Following the news that Gloucestershire would be partially pulling out of Tri-Force, Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said: “The three forces have been working together amicably and constructively to determine how best to configure specialist policing resources across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Avon and Somerset. This includes armed policing, roads policing and policing with dogs.

“Armed resources form a vital part of our local policing model in Wiltshire and this will remain so. The public in Wiltshire will not notice any change as we intend to continue working collaboratively with our neighbouring forces. By working together, our armed policing capability and capacity is enhanced and we can call upon resources from beyond Wiltshire should events require immediate support in order to protect the public.

“In terms of roads policing, our officers patrol the networks which criss-cross our boundary with Avon and Somerset, and also work closely with their armed response colleagues. So, we want the collaborative arrangements with Avon and Somerset to remain and we are working with them to achieve that outcome.

“Regarding the dogs sections, as a large proportion of their work is carried out with colleagues in our Community Policing Teams, we have been discussing whether it would be better for them to work with their local police colleagues rather than in collaboration. There are however potential benefits to be had from collaborating in terms of the training of police dogs. We are continuing to explore this area alongside colleagues from Avon and Somerset.”

More follows.