A team of wardens ‘with some policing powers’ have taken to the streets of Swindon.
The four new security officers will work alongside Wiltshire Police and the council’s community safety team to help reduce crime across the town.
The team – equipped with stab vests – will respond, gather intelligence and provide reassurance to the public whilst armed with some basic policing powers.
The wardens, accredited by the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme, will be able to issue fixed penalty notices for offences like causing disorder, littering and cycling on a footpath.
“This new team of officers will be the eyes and ears in local communities and be a visible presence to deter anti-social behaviour”, a Swindon Borough Coucil spokesperson said.
Adding: “Initially, officers will spend a lot of their time in the town centre but they do have vehicles to respond to other areas of the Borough when needed.
“We’re committed to making Swindon a safe place and we will continue to work closely with Wiltshire Police to make that happen.”
Councillor Jim Grant, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Joint Working, said: “It’s great to have these officers on board and I hope they can be a benefit to local communities across Swindon.
“We know there has been an increase in anti-social behaviour recently, not just in the town centre but across the borough, and we want to do whatever we can to deter that and make people feel safe.
“We will continue to work closely with our Police colleagues to ensure we make the town centre a welcoming place for both local residents and visitors to Swindon.”
