Campaign launches to ensure festive revellers have a safe night out in Swindon this winter

Heading out in Swindon this festive season? You’ll be reassured to know that there’s plenty of plans in place to keep you safe as highlighted by the new ‘Getting You Home Safe’ which focuses on the collective responsibility to ensure a safe night out for those celebrating this December.  

Launched by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Wiltshire and Swindon the campaign will promote the range of partnership initiatives designed to make the night time economy safer and more welcoming during the busy festive period. 

Initiatives include uniform and plain clothed officer patrols, taxi marshals, trained venue staff offering initiatives like Ask for Angela, street wardens, taxi marshals and volunteers such as Night Angels and Street Pastors providing reassurance and assistance. 

Residents and visitors should expect to see adverts at train stations, bus stops and on buses in Swindon and across the county in addition to digital advertising promoting the campaign. 

This launch follows a recent county-wide survey which showed that only 25% of respondents (829) felt quite or very safe at night compared to 66.5% during the day and that more than half of people (56.3%) felt either quite or very unsafe at night.  

It also revealed that 64% of respondents felt most unsafe at night due to drunken behaviour and large groups of people. Poor lighting was the biggest concern for 61%, while 54% said a lack of visible police presence was a key contributing factor. 

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: “Everyone should feel safe when enjoying a night out, and that requires more than just policing.  

“Getting You Home Safe is about partnership - bringing together my office, local authorities, policing, community organisations and residents and visitors to ensure a safe night out for all. 

“We each have a collective responsibility to ensure safer public spaces at night and this campaign is a clear example of how working together can prevent harm, build confidence, and make Wiltshire a safer place for everyone.” 

Detective Inspector Troy Smith: “Every person who goes out to enjoy a night in Wiltshire deserves to feel safe. Through Project Vigilant, our Police officers are out there often in plainclothes actively watching for those who may be looking to target vulnerable people for a sexual purpose.

“We want to drive down sexual violence and make our Wiltshire streets a hostile place for predators to operate. Our Project Vigilant operations are about addressing behaviour early so we can stop offences before they even start.” 

“But we also rely on the public’s support. If you see something that doesn’t look or feel right, someone acting inappropriately, following others, or causing unease, please report it. I would like to reassure the public that Wiltshire Police can never have too much community intelligence coming in.” 

Councillor Jim Grant, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships said, “We’ve taken real action to make sure Swindon has a safe, welcoming night-time economy throughout the year, including during the busy Christmas period. We’ve invested in measures that make a real difference, including introducing Taxi Marshalls and expanding our Street Wardens service.  

"By working closely with the PCC, Wiltshire Police and our local partners, we’re making sure that everyone heading out to enjoy Swindon’s nightlife can do so with confidence, knowing the right services are in place to help them celebrate and get home safely.” 

The campaign also encourages people to plan ahead, look out for each other, and use personal safety apps to stay connected. Advice on safe travel is available through Wiltshire Police’s Travel Safe webpage, Swindon Bus Company’s winter safety tips, and guidance from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. People travelling over the festive period will also be able to send a text message to the British Transport Police directly and discreetly on 61016, in order to report non-emergency crime or concerns. 

Partners include Wiltshire Police, Swindon Borough Council, licensed venues, transport providers, community groups, and safety charities are who are all working together to create safer spaces and ensure everyone feels secure when enjoying Swindon’s night-time economy.  

Published Monday 24th November 2025