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Wiltshire Police has stepped up its efforts to tackle domestic abuse across the county, rolling out enhanced training and deepening partnerships with victim support services throughout October.
The initiative forms part of the Force’s ongoing commitment to improving how officers and staff identify, respond to, and support victims of domestic abuse. Training has been delivered across all levels of the organisation — from frontline responders to specialist investigators — with a focus on ensuring that every member of staff understands their role in protecting vulnerable individuals.
A combination of bite-sized learning modules and mandatory sessions has been used to reinforce awareness and practical skills. These sessions have been developed in collaboration with key partner organisations working directly with victims and survivors.
Detective Chief Inspector Claire Smith, who leads Wiltshire Police’s work on Violence Against Women and Girls, said the investment in staff training was crucial to strengthening the Force’s overall response.
“Wiltshire Police recognises that domestic abuse is everybody’s responsibility within the organisation,” she said. “We need to ensure we are supporting victims more effectively while taking robust action against offenders. This is not just a month of action — we want to encourage anyone suffering to reach out. There is support available, and we will listen.”
Detective Chief Inspector Claire Smith.
The Force’s domestic abuse strategy is underpinned by close collaboration with a range of specialist support services, including Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) and Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs). These services, funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Wiltshire Council and NHS England, provide tailored emotional and practical support to victims and survivors.
IDVAs focus on helping those experiencing domestic abuse, offering early and ongoing assistance throughout police investigations and court proceedings. ISVAs provide support to victims of all ages affected by rape or sexual assault, regardless of when the offence took place, with dedicated services available for young people and male victims.
Temporary Sergeant Ryan Price from Swindon Response said the involvement of IDVAs had significantly improved the quality of support offered to victims.
“IDVAs have provided crucial assistance from the very early stages of investigations, ensuring that safeguarding measures are in place both during and after the custody process,” he said. “Their input has helped us deliver a much better service to victims and offered reassurance to officers and supervisors alike.”
Temporary Sergeant Ryan Price.
Wiltshire Police says it remains committed to strengthening its domestic abuse response through ongoing staff development, inter-agency collaboration, and continued engagement with the community to encourage reporting and provide reassurance to victims.
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