Annual festive Op Dasher lands in Swindon

This year’s Operation Dasher starts in Swindon this week (Tuesday 29/11) to help people have a peaceful festive period as we target the associated crime and anti-social behaviour.

The high visibility policing operation will see Neighbourhood Policing Teams across the town centre and out of town shopping locations focusing on the day-time economy and extended late night business opening hours until December 24.

The busy Christmas period sees an increased footfall and with it the risk of crime and anti-social behaviour goes up.

Operation Dasher has been put in place to tackle this and to offer reassurance to the public and business community across Swindon.

We will be supported by inSwindon Bid’s ambassadors, Swindon Borough Council CCTV operators, Pubwatch and store security staff.

Operation Dasher will run in conjunction with our annual Community Policing Pop-up shop, which also returns this week, offering residents an opportunity to meet their local officers.

The pop-up shop opens in Swindon Hub, 36 The Parade and will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until December 22.

It will also be run by Neighbourhood Policing Teams from across the town and will be an opportunity for local people to meet officers from a range of different policing departments including the dog unit, the drone unit, fraud department and digital investigations, as well as representatives from partner agencies.

Inspector Dave Tippetts said: "Op Dasher is our annual approach to preventing acquisitive crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the town centre and satellite shopping centres, where Neighbourhood and response officers will be on foot patrol throughout this busy period in the build up to Christmas.

“We will also once again be opening the Community Policing pop-up shop - this time in the Community Hub which is in The Parade, where our staff will be offering crime prevention advice or just the opportunity to have a chat. Please do drop in and meet the team."

The Police and Crime Commissioner is also supporting this important scheme. 

PCC Philip Wilkinson added: “This is a great initiative and I’m always pleased to see the police working alongside partners to engage with the communities they serve. 

“I often hear from the public that they want to have more facetime with their local officers and this provides the perfect opportunity for residents to get information and crime prevention advice to help them stay safe in their communities and online.”

Tips to avoid becoming a victim of crime when you are out and about during the Christmas period: 

When out shopping, keep your purse and handbag with you; don’t leave it in your trolley or unattended

• Keep any cash you may have on you to a minimum 
• Mobile phones and wallets in back pockets are a target - keep secure and out of sight 
• Be careful at cash machines and when paying by card - shield your PIN at all times. 

With more shoppers about, there are inevitably more vehicles in car parks, offering more opportunities for criminals. 

Don’t let your vehicle be an easy target: 

• Don’t leave Christmas presents or valuables like laptops, mobile phones, handbags, credit cards or cheque books in your car.  If unavoidable – put them in the boot and ensure equipment is completely switched off
•  Remove Satnavs, clean away suction marks on windows and make sure car doors, windows and sunroofs are all properly closed and locked 
• Leave absolutely nothing on show - you may know that there is no wallet in your jacket, but a thief will break a window just to check. 

If you own a van, remove tools overnight and display an appropriate sign in the rear window making this clear. 

If you are a victim of crime or want to report suspicious behaviour to us, please call 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.