Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC) has today released its annual assessment of the nation's police service, with Wiltshire Police scoring highly.

The PEEL (police effectiveness, effciency and legitimacy) report has for the last three years been undertaken to provide the public with information about how their local force is performing.

Wiltshire Police scored 'good' levels for a second successive year on the three key areas of the extent to which the force is effective, efficient and legitimate at keeping people safe and reducing crime.

Key points to come out of the report show that Wiltshire Police costs each taxpayer in the county 42p per day, compared to the national averge of 55p.

The force has more than 2,000 employees covering an area of 1,346 miles.

HMIC Wendy Williams, said: "I commend the force on the service it is providing to the people of Wiltshire.

"The force continues to have an effective approach to preventing crime and anti-social behaviour, investigating crime, and tackling serious and organised crime.

"The force also continues to prioritise the protection of vulnerable people.

"This is evident in the investments it has made in child sexual exploitation teams and multi-agency safeguarding hubs, together with better training for specialist investigators.

"In the year ahead, I will be particularly interested to see how the force develops its communication with the people of Wiltshire, especially those who may have less confidence in the police."

In an open letter to Mike Veale, the county's chief constable, Angus McPherson, police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire, said: "I recognise that Wiltshire Police receives one of the lowest levels of funding from central government.

"As one of only 12 of the 43 forces nationally that are ‘good’ or better in all grades, you and your colleagues are to be congratulated."

Mr Veale said: “Wiltshire Police have received ‘good’ gradings in all of the HMIC PEEL inspections over the last 12 months.

"We are a top performing force with much to be proud of. 

“I cannot take the credit for this success, this is down to the fantastic officers, staff, specials and volunteers who work tirelessly, day in - day out, with professionalism, commitment and enthusiasm to keep the communities of Wiltshire and Swindon safe.

"I thank them for all that they do, as does the commissioner in his letter today.

“I am incredibly proud of them, and grateful to them and I hope the public can share in that pride.”