Along with millions of others, I watched the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral with immense sadness.

I had been fortunate to meet him a number of times and all of the tributes rang true of the man I encountered. His wit, sharp character, his philosophy of providing opportunities for all and championing the ordinary – you can’t underestimate the effect his life works have had on the country we are today.

The duke was, simply, public service personified.

For me, the striking image of HM The Queen sat by herself while her family were kept at arm’s length was especially poignant and couldn’t fail to resonate with even the most stony-hearted.

In that one moment royal pomp and ceremony dissolved, already pared back by lockdown restrictions. The Queen was just as vulnerable, just as fragile as the rest of us. Not untouched by grief, not untouched by sadness.

Of course, across the UK this image has been played out countless times over the last year, at every funeral or remembrance service since the world became firmly gripped in the global pandemic. I feel that moment will be ever remembered as a perfect reflection for all of the losses endured in this past year.

As we take those next tentative steps along the lockdown roadmap, I hope we can remember that sense of collective responsibility and ensure we continue to look after one another.

This week has also seen the publication of a report which looked at how police forces responded to the pandemic and Wiltshire Police was singled out for its innovative and effective policing.

I would like to applaud the efforts of staff and officers during this time.

My office worked closely with the force and had full oversight of Wiltshire Police’s approach throughout the pandemic.

Never has engagement between us been more important or carried such significance.

As Wiltshire Police navigated the pandemic – a phenomenon not experienced before – it was vital that policing continued to be with the consent and support of the public.

Ensuring the force responded to any public concerns on how policing would be implemented throughout the county were reflected and informed any approach.

Only through this appropriate challenge and scrutiny can the public have confidence that police powers were applied consistently, fairly and proportionately.

This scrutiny included a thorough, and transparent review, of all enforcement action taken and I am pleased the report’s findings recognised and reflected this.

Consistent, frequent, engagement with our communities, alongside regular partnership briefings with council leaders, MPs and health representatives within the county, meant our community felt sufficiently updated about the force’s approach and had opportunities to question and challenge both myself and the Chief Constable.

These examples show just why Wiltshire Police has been able to innovate and adapt in turbulent times.

I would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to all police officers, staff and volunteers for their hard work and dedication throughout the past year.

They are true public servants potentially putting their own health, and the health of their loved ones, at risk to serve their communities.