Residents in West Swindon are invited to meet their local officer at a drop-in session being held at The Link Centre on Tuesday 28 April 2026. PC Matthew Coates of the local Neighbourhood Policing Team will be available between 9am and 11am to speak with community members about their questions or concerns regarding policing in the area.
The event, held at the leisure facility on Whitehill Way in Westlea, is open to everyone and does not require any prior booking. It offers an opportunity for residents to engage directly with their local police, who currently prioritise increasing visibility, tackling speeding and dangerous driving, and addressing issues related to anti-social behaviour and drugs.
PC Coates joined Wiltshire Police in 2021 and spent four years working in response policing before moving into his current role within the neighbourhood team. He operates under the oversight of Inspector Lawrence Copeland, who brings over two decades of policing experience to the team covering Stratton, Central Swindon North, and West Swindon.
Community engagement initiatives in the area are supported by the Wiltshire Neighbourhood Watch Association. The organisation maintains a partnership agreement with the police force, which aims to strengthen neighbourhood policing principles and reduce crime throughout the region.
More information about local policing updates can be found through the official community messaging service, which allows residents to stay informed about events and activities in their neighbourhood.
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