THE police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire has promised to increase the force's number of police officers if the public agrees to pay more council tax.

Angus Macpherson announced today that he would pledge 38 more officers for Wiltshire if the public agreed to pay an extra £2 per month towards the policing section of their council tax.

"The message I have been picking up loud and clear from my public engagements in 2018 is that people in Wiltshire and Swindon want to see more police on the frontline," he said.

"My promise is that the extra money raised will be used to increase the number of police officers and staff dedicated to frontline policing.

"Enhancing community policing is an absolute priority for me."

The move would see an extra 38 officers introduced to the force (taking its total from 934 to 972), with 12 dedicated to community policing and eight frontline police staff.

Currently in Salisbury, the policing precept for each household is:

  • Band A - £121.51
  • Band B - £141.77
  • Band C - £162.02
  • Band D - £182,27
  • Band E - £222.77
  • Band F - £263.28
  • Band G - £303.78
  • Band H - £364.54

Mr Macpherson said he will also continue to lobby the government for more centralised funding for Wiltshire Police, after it emerged last month that the force is the worst-staffed in England and Wales, with just one police officer for every 721 residents.

The commissioner has previously raised what he calls "historic under-funding" of Wiltshire Police with government ministers.