QUESTIONNAIRES are to be handed out in Westbury and Warminster to find out what people want from their neighbourhood policing teams.

The new teams will be rolled out in the two towns in the New Year, along with teams in Bradford on Avon and Melksham, and their aim is to build better relationships with the community.

In the Warminster and Westbury area there will be five neighbourhood policing teams made up of uniformed officers, PCSOs and special constables.

The idea is for the teams to engage with the community and they are likely to have bases in places like libraries or public halls.

Acting Inspector Ray Lewis, of Warminster Police, said the questionnaire, due to be handed out next month, would provide the police with an idea of the sorts of problems in the different areas.

"We will be looking at the five main objectives that are particular to each area and looking at how to resolve problems people may have," he said.

"It's about looking at what the community wants and getting the right people to deal with it. We can then look at problems and tackle them with a multi-agency approach."

A trial team is already in place in the Adcroft area of Trowbridge and has been addressing issues like anti-social behaviour, litter and dog fouling.

Inspector Dave Cullop, of Trowbridge police, said: "It has been well received. The teams have made a lot of good contacts with the public and we are working in partnership with other service deliverers."

  • Trowbridge Town Trust presented Wiltshire Police with a £500 cheque on Tuesday to pay for two specialised police bikes to make it easier for them to get around.

The bikes will be mainly for the use of the neighbourhood policing team working in the Adcroft area.

Community beat manager Dave Thompson said: "Adcroft is a large area and although we would very much like to patrol on foot there are practicalities involved.

"This is a good middle ground, we can cover a wider area but without being shut away inside a car.

"We will be visible and able to talk to people more easily. It is going to be great for us and for the community."