[6] The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 standardised the structure and responsibilities of borough councils in England and Wales, including requiring they provide a professional police force.

In the same year the Act passed, groups of labourers had rioted across Wiltshire over the price of food and the introduction of new farm equipment, starting fires and destroying machinery.

Notable events for Wiltshire Police in the 19th century include the Rode Hill House murder in 1860 and the bomb explosion outside Salisbury Guildhall in September 1884.

Although the mounted division was not active every day, they were of particular use at the Salisbury Races, ceremonial duties such as escorting judges, and guarding the royal carriage.

On 30 June 1857, the Magistrates Committee that oversaw the force expressed interest in forming an investigation department which was founded with three of the 'most intelligent constables'.

On 6 July 1961, Sir Charles Carter Chitham, a retired policeman of the former British India, laid the foundation stone of the new Wiltshire Police county headquarters at Devizes.

Notable events in this century include the Trowbridge Christmas Eve murder in 1925 and escorting Louis Blériot when displaying his famous cross-channel aeroplane.

They experimented with fixed-wing aircraft, a Robinson Beta 22 helicopter and an Aérospatiale Gazelle, but later chose a Bolkow Bo 105 in 1990, which was used for seven years until it was replaced by a McDonnell Douglas MD 902 Explorer.

There are enquiry offices at Gablecross, Chippenham, Marlborough, Trowbridge, Melksham (south of the town at Hampton Park) and Salisbury.

County division has sites at Cricklade, Royal Wootton Bassett, Calne, Malmesbury, Corsham, Bradford on Avon, Warminster, Tisbury, Mere, Devizes, Amesbury, Tidworth and Pewsey.

In 2021, ten former station buildings were offered for sale, namely Marlborough, Malmesbury, Warminster, Highworth, Westbury, Cricklade, Alderbury, Calne, Pewsey and Wilton.

[21] In late 2019 and early 2020, officers began using Wiltshire Council libraries in Malmesbury, Westbury, Downton and Wilton as "touchdown" points, to increase contact with the public.

Swindon Town has imposed banning orders on those supporters who cause disruption, criminal damage or are violent when attending games.

[31] Between 2007 and 2011 the Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett was host to the repatriations of fallen service men and women who died in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[39][40] A report from March 2010 by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary placed Wiltshire Police among 10 forces that were graded as being 'excellent' and improving on reducing crime, 'fair' at protecting citizens from serious harm, and 'fair' for confidence and satisfaction.

[41] In July 2022, the inspectorate found the force 'inadequate' in three areas: responding to the public, protecting vulnerable people – in particular, victims of domestic abuse – and making use of its resources.

Andrews was initially found guilty of actual bodily harm and was sentenced to six months in prison and faced dismissal from the police force.

[46][47] On 14 September 2010, Andrews was bailed after serving only six days of his sentence pending an appeal against his conviction to be held at Oxford Crown Court in November 2010.

Mr Justice Bean declared Somerville was drunk when she was put in the cells and he believed that Andrews did not intend to throw her to the floor.

[49][50] Deputy Chief Constable David Ainsworth, formerly ACC of Kent Police, was found dead at his home on 22 March 2011.

[54] The independent report criticised Wiltshire Police for failing to properly vet Ainsorth when assuming the role of DCC.

[54] Wiltshire Police responded saying that ACPO should share some of the burden as they had 'green lit' the application for the ACC to DCC promotion, a form that did not include a section for vetting.

[54] Wiltshire Police was found, in a 2015 Employment Tribunal decision, to have racially harassed and discriminated against a black officer, PC Ronnie Lungu.

[55] In 2017 the force faced public criticism for its £1.5M investigation alleged sexual abuse by deceased prime minister Edward Heath.

[56] In 2006, the Home Office announced plans to reduce the number of police forces in the UK from 42 to 24 in an attempt to save money.

[citation needed] In 2010, the plans were publicly criticised by all the involved forces, stating that it would lead to poor quality service and a reduction in local policing.

The Motorcycle Policing unit was featured on Channel 5's Emergency Bikers in Series 2 where they escorted a Hercules from Wootton Bassett towards Somerset.

For instance, the current Chief Inspector of Swindon Operations, Mike Jones, was in the last ever cadet unit in the Wiltshire Police.

[citation needed] The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust was set up in 1998 by Chief Constable Dame Elizabeth Neville.

[66] It currently funds three 'bobby vans' that serve as mobile workshops to the three operators, who are trained locksmiths, carpenters, crime reduction officers and fire risk assessors.