On February 13, 2026, Chief Constable Catherine Roper of Wiltshire Police briefed the Police and Crime Commissioner on new measures to improve how residents in Swindon, Wiltshire, see and interact with local officers. The force plans to launch a new tool on its website that shows the locations of neighbourhood patrol teams to help the public feel more connected to their local police.
This push for visibility comes as Swindon Hub Commander Superintendent Mike Vass prepares a new plan to tackle knife crime following the death of 16-year-old Shayne Hambakachere in Chippenham in January 2026. While reports of anti-social behaviour across Wiltshire have fallen from 10,242 to 9,121 over the last year, knife crime reports in the county increased by 12 per cent to a total of 786.
The police force is also working to manage its finances, with a requirement to save £4.6 million during the 2026/27 financial year. Despite these budget cuts, the Chief Constable has committed to keeping the number of officers at roughly 1,200 to ensure there are enough people to patrol local streets.
In addition to crime figures, the latest update noted that road deaths in the county rose from 19 in 2024 to 23 in 2025. These reports are part of a regular series of updates provided to Philip Wilkinson to ensure the force remains open and accountable to the community.
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