Commissioner visits Community Policing Shop

More than 300 people have visited Swindon's Community Policing Shop since it opened on Friday (19/07).

Today (22/07), Angus Macpherson - Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon - visited the shop following on from the initial surge of interest from shoppers and the public during its opening hours on Friday and Saturday.

Angus said:  "It's a really good initiative, especially at this time of the year with families breaking up for the holidays.  It's an opportunity for them to come in and get information and crime prevention advice to help them stay safe in their communities and on-line."

The shop in The Brunel shopping centre has been donated to Wiltshire Police and follows on from the introduction of the first so called "pop-up shop" back in November; it was such a huge success Swindon South Community Policing Team decided to set up another, this time for summer.

Angus added:  "It has more impact by doing this in the summer and at Christmas; the public think, it's something new let's go and see, lets go and engage.

"I have been really impressed by the number of people who have come through the doors since Friday morning.

"This proves something like this works - a pop-up facility which provides information, advice and support for local communities around crime prevention."

The shop is located on the ground floor of the Brunel Plaza opposite Sainsburys, next to The Cutting Bar and will be open 10am until 2pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 10 August.

A number of aspects of policing will be demonstrated in the shop during the the three weeks it is open, including:  a visit by the police dogs and their handlers, the Drone Unit, the Digital Investigations and Intelligence Unit and the Recruitment Department.