Emergency teams across Wiltshire and Swindon are preparing for a sustained increase in public disorder incidents this summer as the 2026 FIFA World Cup drives unprecedented numbers of fans into the county’s town centres on matchdays.
With England and Scotland both competing, the UK government has confirmed extended licensing hours for the knockout stages. Pubs will be permitted to stay open until 1am for matches kicking off between 5pm and 9pm, and until 2am for those starting between 9pm and 10pm. The extensions apply automatically without venues needing individual temporary event notices.
The decision has not been welcomed universally by those responsible for keeping the peace. Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the NPCC’s national lead for football policing, has been explicit in his opposition, warning that longer drinking hours historically correlate with a rise in public disorder and domestic crime and placing significant additional strain on already stretched local police resources.
In Wiltshire, those resources are already under pressure. PCC Philip Wilkinson has previously written to the Home Office warning that Wiltshire is the third-lowest funded police force in England, and that continued underfunding poses a serious risk to community safety. The prospect of repeated late-night football crowds across a five-week tournament is not a small operational ask.
What’s Already in Place
Wiltshire Police and local council safety teams are working hand-in-hand with pub licensees across Swindon and Salisbury to manage the expected influx of punters this summer. The challenge isn’t just the volume of people; it’s the unpredictability of it. A fixture that looks routine on paper can generate a very different crowd depending on what’s at stake in the table. Fans tracking World Cup winner odds ahead of each knockout round know exactly which matches carry the highest tension. Local safety teams are working to the same fixture calendar – deploying high-visibility neighbourhood response teams and taxi marshals on the nights where the stakes, and the crowds, are likely to be highest.
The foundation for that coordination already exists. The PCC’s Safety at Night Charter, developed in partnership with Wiltshire Police, Wiltshire Council, and Swindon Borough Council, has seen 165 businesses sign up across the county. Venues commit to calling out harmful behaviour, appointing a designated night-safety champion, keeping CCTV fully operational, and implementing the Ask for Angela protocol – a discreet safety scheme allowing anyone who feels at risk to alert staff without drawing attention.
In Swindon, key venues including Kioki and The Steam Railway Co are among those operating under the charter framework. In Salisbury, Vibe Bar on Milford Street is part of the same network. These aren’t passive commitments. Signed-up venues are expected to actively manage crowd behaviour and maintain direct communication lines with local neighbourhood policing teams.
On the Streets
Beyond the venues themselves, Swindon Borough Council deploys physical Taxi Marshals in the Old Town area on busy nights, managing exit queues and reducing the friction between dispersing crowds and transport. Community Safety Wardens patrol both Old Town and the town centre, providing a visible presence that supports police response before incidents escalate.
Trowbridge and Salisbury operate similar council-coordinated warden schemes on high-footfall evenings. The World Cup will push those evenings to happen repeatedly, mid-week and on weekends alike, across a stretch that runs from June 11 to July 19.
The Ask
The message from local authorities is direct. Celebrate, but plan ahead. Know how you’re getting home before the final whistle. Use licensed venues operating under the Safety at Night Charter. If something feels wrong inside a venue, ask for Angela at the bar.
Taxi Marshals will be in position on the busy nights. Street wardens will be out. But the demand on emergency services during a tournament of this scale is real, and the ask is that fans do their part to keep it manageable.
