Keeping a watch on the drunken louts (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Keeping a watch on the drunken louts

MEASURES to stamp out drunken violence have been stepped up recently.

A mobile CCTV van can regularly be found parked up in the Fleet Street area at night. Footage has led to convictions, and the van also has a deterrent effect.

Foot patrols have also been beefed up.

Reducing the fear of crime, is also a high priority, but Insp Bamber added that it is a problem for the community to address.

"The police obviously have an input, but it's something for the local authority and for individuals themselves to address too," he said.

"For example, revellers in the town centre should remember the area is not just for them, it's a public area, and drunken behaviour can increase people's fears.

"People who have drunk a lot of alcohol can be intimidating, and I understand why residents may not feel safe."

Little crime

The latest figures show Wiltshire is the safest county in England.

And Swindon is one of the safest towns of its size.

Between April and December, recorded crime fell by 5.5 per cent, violent offences were down by 2.5 per cent and burglary dropped by 13 pre cent.

Just last week, a survey found that drunken fights in pubs and clubs in Swindon and the rest of the Wiltshire are low compared to other parts of the country.