Latest news with #CatherineRoper
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New subway mural unveiled as part of town's growing art trail
West Swindon Parish Council are "delighted" to unveil its latest commission, a street art mural which has been added to the town art trail. The mural is called 'The Bear's Picnic' and has been created at Roughmoor Way subway by Brookfield School. Ed Poster, a renowned local artist created the mural, known for its "distinctive style", to transform the subway walls. The mural displays a group of bears wearing clothes and eating a picnic outdoors. Recommended reading Chief Constable Catherine Roper to address public's questions Scheme to visit every council tenant reveals significant problems Rumours of Fleetwood Mac honour world's first supergroup Chair of West Swindon Parish Council, Cllr Rose Llewellyn, said: "We are thrilled to add another new mural as part of our commitment to improve our local environment. "Ed is a fantastic artist and has done a brilliant job. We are proud to include this work in our growing Art Trail around the Parish." The town's art trail consists of 10 destinations around Swindon where murals can be found. According to the map, there are two more murals to be created.
BBC News
10-04-2025
- BBC News
Police chief asks for public's help to tackle child grooming
A police chief constable has warned that wherever children live, they are equally at risk of being groomed for sexual or criminal Constable Catherine Roper, of Wiltshire Police, has asked the public to trust officers and come forward with any information – in recognition that intelligence sharing is key to finding child said the force hoped to increase police visibility in rural and urban areas in a bid to build stronger relationships, boost information-sharing and increase NSPCC says police forces recorded more than 7,000 online grooming crimes in total in 2023/24 – up by 89% since 2017/18. Community intelligence Ms Roper, who is also the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for children and young people, said: "We need to accept that tragically children and young people are being groomed across all areas, urban and rural."We need the public to come forward and tell us when they are concerned."She added that, as a direct result of community intelligence gathered during Operation Scorpion – a regional drugs operation – Wiltshire Police were able to identify vulnerable children, young people and adults and put in place safeguarding measures."Urban or rural, I ask our communities to trust us with the information and we will focus on keeping people safe," she said. Ms Roper recently commissioned a review into allegations of child exploitation and child grooming made to Wiltshire Police over the past 10 years, to improve the force's responses. Wiltshire Police has identified the following indicators that a young person may be being groomed:Are they being secretive about how they are spending their time?Do they have an older boyfriend or girlfriend?Do they have money or new things like clothes and mobile phones that they cannot or will not explain?Are they drinking or taking drugs?Are they spending more or less time than usual online or on their devices?Do they seem upset or withdrawn?Are they using sexual language you would not expect them to know?Are they spending more time away from home or going missing for periods of time?
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
Wiltshire Police plan sets out priorities for next four years
A new strategy is set to shape Wiltshire Police's priorities over the next four years. The Police and Crime Plan will be implemented in April and aims to improve safety across the county. This will include more public engagement, increased police presence, and decreased response times. The strategy is part of an in-depth campaign focusing on the priorities of Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson's #MakingWiltshireSafer Police and Crime Plan, which runs until 2029. Read more: Apple TV: Filming underway at Swindon's Oasis Centre Residents can expect to see a reduction in violence and serious harm through targeted interventions and proactive policing. Crime affecting local communities, such as antisocial behaviour and rural and business crime, will be tackled with the help of targeted policing. The plan also aims to improve the journey for victims once a crime is reported and to reduce reoffending. This strategy follows extensive consultation and engagement with residents, operational advice from policing, local stakeholders, and commissioned services. It aims to tackle key safety challenges while ensuring an effective, efficient, frontline policing service that is highly visible, protects the vulnerable and encourages greater trust and engagement with communities. Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: "My priority is to ensure Wiltshire remains a safe place to live, work, and visit. "But we must ensure that residents feel safe, it's simply not enough to tell them that they are safe. "This campaign outlines what residents should expect to see over the next four years as the plan builds on the significant improvements made by Wiltshire Police in recent years and the previous Police and Crime Plan." Read more: M&S: Swindon's Orbital store expansion nears completion He added that the plan was shaped through detailed consultation with residents, local stakeholders, and policing professionals, with both local, regional and national input. He said that he and his office had been working closely with Chief Constable Catherine Roper to ensure Wiltshire Police had made significant progress, particularly in frontline visibility and improved outcomes for victims. However, he said there is still more work to be done, with transforming investigations, supporting victims, and providing a better public experience among the top priorities. Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Catherine Roper said: "I welcome the Commissioner's refreshed Police and Crime Plan - and I fully agree with its strategic priorities. "I am held to account for the delivery of the plan, and at its heart are the voices and concerns of our communities whom we serve. "Wiltshire Police has made progress in improving our service and I am committed to continuing these improvements and ensuring that we are keeping Wiltshire safe." The Police and Crime Plan 2025-2029 has four strategic priorities. These are a police service that meets community needs, reducing violence and serious harm, tackling crimes that matter to local communities, and improving the experience of victims and delivering justice. Under the new strategy, police services will focus on being responsive and visible, with a focus on public trust. Read more: Restaurant owner 'unsettled' after 'dine and dash' incident There will also be a proactive approach to tackling domestic abuse, sexual violence, and serious organised crime and violence. The plan also aims to address crimes that matter most to local communities, such as anti-social behaviour, rural crime, and road safety. The plan was ratified by the Police and Crime Panel in November 2024 and first published on the OPCC website in December 2024. Those interested in learning more about the new Police and Crime Plan can attend upcoming events, where representatives will be available for discussions. These events include Salisbury Cattle Market on March 25, Tesco in Chippenham on April 3, and Trowbridge Civic Centre on April 15.
