A range of local safety teams joined forces in Swindon town centre on Saturday evening (6 December) to support a safe start to the festive season.
Their work formed part of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Getting You Home Safe campaign, which promotes joint responsibility between local authorities, police, licensed venues and volunteers to make nights out safer and help people get home without incident.
PCC Philip Wilkinson spent the evening with officers, taxi marshals, neighbourhood wardens, night angels and street pastors across the town centre and Old Town. They were visible throughout the night, offering reassurance and practical help.
Taxi marshals supported vulnerable people at busy ranks, aiming to reduce the risk of disorder and speed up journeys home. Street wardens patrolled key areas, offering assistance to anyone who needed it.
Inside venues, staff used measures such as Ask for Angela to protect customers and offer discreet help when someone felt unsafe.
Community volunteers and Street Pastors worked in known hotspots, giving guidance, offering water and helping people reach safe transport options.
Uniformed officers engaged with the public throughout the evening. Plain-clothed teams focused on identifying predatory behaviour, with Project Vigilant remaining a central part of their work. These partnership schemes will continue throughout the festive period and into the new year.
PCC Philip Wilkinson said: “By bringing together police officers, local authorities, venue staff, and volunteers, we’ve demonstrated the practical steps being taken to keep people safe during the festive season.
“It’s vital that the public sees this commitment in action, and I’m proud of the collaborative effort that makes initiatives like these highlighted by the Getting You Home Safe campaign possible.”
Wiltshire Police has also launched a Winter of Action under the Home Office’s Safer Streets initiative. Running from Monday 1 December 2025 to Saturday 31 January 2026, it aims to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour while improving safety in town centres and late-night venues.
Acting Inspector Winter said: “Our neighbourhood team manage the night time economy with assistance from our response teams on a Friday and Saturday night with dedicated staff in place along with our partner agencies who help keep people safe, reduce disorder and help people get home safely.
“We also undertake offender-focused Project Vigilant deployments, which consist of plain clothes and uniformed officers searching for signs of predatory behaviour towards women and girls. The team then proactively intervene and robustly manage offenders.
“This is all tied in with our wider work around preventing violence against women and girls. We are here to stop those things from escalating before they happen.”
Councillor Jim Grant, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships said: “Swindon’s Taxi Marshalls play a vital role in helping everyone get home safely after enjoying Swindon’s nightlife.
“Working closely with Wiltshire Police and other partners, they manage queues, reduce conflict and make sure people get into the right vehicle.
“In addition, we’ve expanded our Street Warden service, with our Community Safety Wardens frequently patrolling Old Town and the town centre.
“Their presence provides extra reassurance to residents and visitors, supporting the work of the Taxi Marshalls and helping to prevent antisocial behaviour before it escalates.
“This collaborative approach highlights the commitment the Council, Wiltshire Police, PCC and local venues have in keeping our night-time economy safe throughout the festive season.”
