A new police commander is striving to make Swindon a ‘safer and better’ place.
Detective Superintendent Guy Elkins vows to tackle the growing violence and knife crime by “building strong community policing and enhancing community resilience”.
The senior officer, who began his career on the beat in Poole, Dorset, joined Wiltshire Police in 2022 and led the Crime Standards and Justice department before his promotion to Swindon commander.
He replaces Phil Staynings, who has been promoted to Chief Superintendent – and is now Head of Local Policing and the Neighbourhood Harm Reduction Unit.
In a statement, he said: “My policing journey began in 2004 when I joined Dorset Police as a response officer in Poole, driven by a deep-seated commitment to public service and a desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
“Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working in various capacities, including both uniformed policing and as a detective specialising in counterterrorism and serious and organised crime.
“My career has taken me through different roles, from serving as a neighbourhood sergeant in local policing to managing a response team. In 2014, after meeting my wife, I uprooted and moved to Swindon where I have lived ever since.
“I joined Thames Valley Police where I had the opportunity to work in Reading, Oxford, and finally as the Deputy Commander for South Oxfordshire in the Vale of White Horse.
“My passion for my community and my desire to contribute to the area I call home led me to join Wiltshire Police in 2022. My previous role was to oversee the Crime Standards and Justice department, which includes managing our role in areas such as driving prosecutions alongside the Crown Prosecution Service, supporting witnesses and victims, and handling firearms licensing.
“My posting to Swindon is a position I’ve always aspired to, and I am immensely proud to serve you as the Swindon Area Commander.
“As I step into this role, I look forward to engaging with our communities and fostering partnerships across Swindon. We face challenges like youth and gang violence, knife crime, and ensuring the best possible support for our victims.
“My focus will be on building strong community policing and enhancing community resilience. I’m also eager to collaborate with the business community to develop effective strategies to protect against crimes like commercial burglary and shoplifting.
“I am committed to ensuring Swindon is a safe and better place to live, and I am excited to work alongside our dedicated team and the community to achieve this goal.”
