Melksham Police Update

It has been a busy few weeks for the Melksham Neighbourhood Policing Team, with the summer period bringing an increase in demand alongside the inevitable reduction in staffing as officers take annual leave.

Despite this, the team has continued to prioritise visibility across Melksham and the surrounding villages, balancing our commitment to community engagement with the operational demands we face.

We have enjoyed attending a number of community groups across the town, including the Chatty Café and Men’s Club, both held at Melksham Campus on Tuesdays. These sessions provide a great opportunity for us to meet local residents, listen to their concerns and have informal conversations about what matters to the community.

We were also delighted to welcome members of Steeple Ashton WI, who have very kindly created and knitted an amazing 25 trauma teddies for Wiltshire Police.

The teddies will be carried in our response vehicles and used by officers to support children who may be present at traumatic incidents. Something as simple as a teddy can provide comfort and reassurance to a child during what can be an incredibly frightening and difficult experience. We are extremely grateful to the WI for their time, generosity and thoughtfulness.

Tackling antisocial behaviour

Unfortunately, the summer period has also seen an increase in reports of antisocial behaviour, with a number of incidents involving groups of young people entering premises which appear to be abandoned or disused.

Several of these incidents have resulted in damage being caused and, in some cases, items being stolen from within the properties.

We would like to remind young people that a building appearing to be abandoned does not mean it is unowned. Entering these premises without permission can result in criminal offences being committed but there is also a very real risk of serious injury. Disused buildings can contain unsafe structures and other hazards which may not be immediately obvious.

A number of young people have now been identified in connection with these incidents. The Neighbourhood Policing Team will be visiting those involved, along with their parents or guardians, over the coming weeks.

Due to the increase in reports, a Section 35 Dispersal Order was also authorised for a period of 48 hours. This provided officers with additional powers to direct individuals to leave an area where they were engaging in, or were likely to engage in, antisocial behaviour.

As always, we would encourage residents to continue reporting incidents and concerns to us. Information from the community is invaluable in helping us to understand where problems are occurring and take appropriate action.

We will continue to work alongside our communities, local partners and businesses to keep Melksham and the surrounding villages safe and enjoyable places to live, work and visit.

Sergeant Charly Chilton