"Little hope" that Wiltshire force will stay independent

Wiltshire Police has said it wants to remain independent but part of a strategic alliance' with Gloucestershire and Dorset, reports the Swindon Advertiser. This has been known as the 'sausage' option because of the geographical shape of the area.

South Swindon MP Anne Snelgrove told Mr Reid that although Wiltshire constabulary was too small to respond adequately to major incidents, crime levels in Swindon and Wiltshire remained the lowest in the country. She said:

Any proposed changes would need to satisfy me that local policing would continue to improve, and that neighbourhood policing would be a major area of expansion in order to tackle anti-social behaviour and petty crime.

The home secretary replied that the status quo is not an option.