At the Full Council Meeting on 20th October 2025, Sergeant Gemma Rutter presented the latest Melksham Police Neighbourhood Team Report, speaking on local crime trends and the team’s ongoing commitment to community safety.
As part of the Keeping Wiltshire Safe mission, the report focuses on the top policing priorities: safer public spaces, violence and burglary. The Melksham Police Neighbourhood Team are seeking to enhance community engagement through regularly publishing information across their website, social media and at face-to-face meetings that will be held at least once a month. The approach aims to create connections between the team and Melksham residents, as well as highlight the polices priorities, actions that have been taken and recent crime data to understand the impact on the local area.
Between the 10th and 16th November 2025, the Neighbourhood team will be opening up mobile police station surgeries, providing residents with an opportunity to speak with officers about their concerns, policing priorities and more. For those unable to attend, a growing online presence by Melksham Police is further part of the Neighbourhood Team’s community commitment, with quarterly Facebook Live events planned to provide regular engagement.
The latest crime data, encompassing July to September 2025, positively shows a decrease in overall recorded crimes, dropping from 515 incidents in 2024 to 503 in 2025. Anti-social behaviour saw a significant decrease in reports, from 120 in 2024 to 55 offences in 2025. As part of the policing priorities, a reduction of three incidents of burglary was also noted at the Full Council Meeting.
In contrast to the positive trends, the report also highlighted an increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 217 to 247. Tackling violence remains a key priority for both the Neighbourhood Team and Melksham Town Council. We are continuing to support charities such as Fear Free, including sponsoring Gary MacAlister, who is representing Fear Free in the 2026 London Marathon, organising a Free The Night event to promote safe streets, and signing the White Ribbon Promise to show our dedication to ending violence this October.