Police officers join new Swindon anti-social behaviour team

Swindon Borough Council will work closely with the police and town centre safety wardens in the improved anti-social behaviour team

New officers and an increase in police patrols have been implemented to tackle anti-social behaviour in a town centre.

Swindon Borough Council will work closely with the police and town centre safety wardens in an improved anti-social behaviour team.

New team member Constable Barreto said he wants to "reassure" people.

Labour councillor Jim Grant said, given the lack of resources the council and police have, "it's incredibly important that we work together".

However, Swindon Conservatives deputy Group Leader Dale Heenan said the project was already having a positive impact and felt the new team would not "have any tangible new impact".

"The Safety wardens had a positive impact on Swindon town centre and proved useful in tackling shoplifting and violence" he said.

"Replacing these four people funded by the Conservative government with four new people funded by Wiltshire Police and Swindon Borough Council is not going to have any tangible new impact.

The Swindon Green Party and Liberal Democrat Party have also been approached for comment.

The two new officers to join the team are Constables Thapa and Barreto who have joined existing officers PC Bezzant, PCSO Jefferies and PCSO Sims to show an extra presence in the town centre, the Local Democracy Reporting Service has been told.

PC Barreto said it is "important that people see us in the town centre".

"I will give people extra reassurance that we are here, and that we can help people with any issues they face," they said.

'Create behaviour changes'

"We want to give people who come into town, and businesses confidence that we will help them and give them confidence."

The council has also appointed Emma Phillips as its new anti-social behaviour officer, along with Lara James-Williams learning as an apprentice.

Both have joined Dean Tillings who has been in the Anti-Social Behaviour team for eight months.

Ms Phillips said the team does not want people to be criminalised "if that's not needed".

"We want to educate people, persuade them to change their behaviour before the need for police involvement," she said.

Mr Grant said the team knows people want anti-social behaviour in the town centre sorted out.

"It's only by working together we can deliver what the people of Swindon want," he added.