Large police presence in Swindon as police helicopter circles overhead

Police officers swarmed an area of Swindon this afternoon as they searched for somebody.

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter from Bristol began to assist local police in Park South from around 4.30pm.

Police vehicles and officers — including a dog unit — could be spotted Cranmore Avenue, Carshalton Road, Shaftesbury Avenue and Eldene Drive.

One officer was seen to discover and search a black rucksack left near a tree — but it was empty.

It’s not clear whether they were searching for a suspect or a missing person. Some reports on social media suggest they may have been hunting drug dealers operating in Carstairs Avenue area.

By 4.55pm, the helicopter had left the area and units on the ground began to disperse.

We’ve approached Wiltshire Police and NPAS for comment.