Police will work "on the front foot" to tackle knife crime in Swindon
It comes just two days on from a fatal stabbing in North Swindon
Last updated 6th Dec 2022
Just days on from a stabbing in North Swindon, where an 18-year-old died, police have told Greatest Hits Radio that officers will be "proactive, on the front foot" to tackle knife crime.
Police were called to Mazurek Way shortly after 1.30 pm on Sunday (4th December) after receiving reports of a disorder.
The victim has been named locally as 18-year-old Owen Dunn - although police say formal identification is yet to take place.
Superintendent Phil Staynings, who is the head of local policing in Swindon Borough says "I recognise people will feel unsafe" following the stabbing but reassures residents that police are working "proactively" to tackle knife crime.
He told Greatest Hits Radio that his staff are "working tirelessly" to eradicate the problem of knife crime in Swindon.
Superintendent Staynings added that they will need support from the public to do so.
"We are doing all we can. We need communities to support us. We can't do this as a police service on our own, and we need the trust and confidence of the public in order to be able to support us in eradicating this issue from society."
In the coming days, we've been told to expect an increased police presence in North Swindon.
Superintendent Staynings says that will help engaging with communities and give more opportunities for people with information to speak with officers.
Officers will also be looking to take knives off the streets too, with Superintendent Staynings saying that "any knife or bladed article seized, reduces the threat and risk".