£1m extra funding to tackle anti-social behaviour

One million pounds of extra funding has been secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner from the Government’s Hotspot Response Fund to target anti-social behavior and serious violence in some of the worst hit areas in Wiltshire and Swindon.

Wiltshire Police and partner agencies are cracking down on criminals, using the full extent of the law and civil powers to target people whose behavior is causing significant harm to their communities.

Wiltshire Police used statistical analysis to identify hotspots in Wiltshire and Swindon where ASB and serious violence are most problematic and, using the extra funding, increased patrols in those areas.

Extra patrols mean there is increased visibility in ten parts of the county; In Swindon, there are more patrols in Park North, Park South, Old Town, Walcot East and Faringdon Road. In Wiltshire, there are extra patrols in Trowbridge, Melksham, Chippenham, Devizes and Salisbury.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson understands the frustration for residents where ASB is a problem: “Anti-social behaviour, in its many guises, is something that a number of residents talk to me about when I talk to them about issues affecting their lives.

“This additional £1m of funding gives Wiltshire Police the ability to effectively tackle and prevent ASB and serious violence by putting more officers on the streets.

“Wiltshire Police has done extensive research to ensure we are putting our resources in the right place and I will hold our Chief Constable to account to ensure her officers are out and doing everything they can to reduce crime in these hotspot locations. .

“One of my priorities is to reduce anti-social behavior and serious violence in Wiltshire and Swindon, and by using funding like this and working with our partners, we can make our communities a safer place to live and work.”

OPCC has also worked with local councils to provide funding for ASB street wardens, who work closely with local neighborhood policing teams to identify and solve problems in their area.

The increase in police patrols began in early July and these patrols will continue to operate until at least the end of March 2025.

Jenn Holton is the Neighborhood Injury Reduction Officer at Wiltshire Police:

“In the short time they have been in operation, these patrols, together with the work of our partner agencies, have already started to have a positive impact on the areas they target.

“However, it’s not just about more visible patrols. By working with our partners to identify the root causes of ASB and offering solutions such as youth work placements or out-of-court resolutions, we want to get to the heart of anti-social behavior and serious violence so we can create safer spaces in our communities. ”