Security officers to help tackle antisocial behaviour in Swindon

Venture Security, one of the south’s leading independent security companies, has been awarded a contract by Swindon Borough Council to help tackle antisocial behaviour within the town centre and wider borough.

Venture’s trained and SIA licensed security officers will be acting as ‘Safer Street Wardens’, conducting daily patrols of the town centre and looking out for issues including alcohol consumption, excessive noise and intimidating behaviour.

Funded by the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund the team will be working closely with Wiltshire Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, as well as Swindon Borough Council’s Community Safety Team.

While the officers will be spending a majority of their time in the town centre they will also have vehicles and be able to respond and support other areas of the borough when required.

A similar service is already being provided by Venture in Andover, Salisbury, Winchester and Fareham. Within these areas, improvements were quick to be seen. A number of Venture’s officers have gone on to win awards for their handling of challenging incidents, including medical emergencies, and detaining individuals armed with knives and other weapons.

Venture Security was the first security provider in both Wiltshire and Hampshire to be awarded CSAS accreditation, meaning accredited officers also benefit from having low-level police powers, giving them even greater scope to deal with antisocial behaviour.

Swindon Borough Council's Cabinet member for communities and joint working, Jim Grant, 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.”

Paul Howe, managing director, Venture Security, said: “We are delighted to be working with Swindon Borough Council and to be putting our skills to good use to help tackle antisocial behaviour in the area, making it a safe and inviting place to be.

“Not only is antisocial behaviour unpleasant for residents and visitors but it can adversely impact on footfall, the revenue of local retailers and the reputation of an area. Having a visible security presence can act as a great deterrent, while being reassuring for residents.

“All our officers are fully licensed, trained and experienced, including in first aid and mental health first aid, and we look forward to working closely with the council, police and other stakeholders on this project.”

Venture Security provides specialist security services for corporate and residential customers based across central and southern England. The company is ranked within the top 1% of UK security providers.