POLICE officers will flood crime hotspots, councillors have heard.

Called “pulse patrols”, Swindon’s neighbourhood officers will target areas where spikes in criminal activity has been logged.

The plans are a response to staffing pressures, councillors said.

They were reported as parish councillors from across the South Swindon area met Wiltshire Police’s community inspector Dave Hobman at a community safety forum.

Calling the forum a “useful platform” to raise residents’ concerns, South

Swindon Parish Council chairman Chris Watts said: “Pulse patrols are a sign of the local police becoming a reactive force as the current resourcing means a reduce ability to act proactively.

“The forum raised concerns about the lack of police visibility in communities and the link to the rise in crime over recent years. 

“Ever-present community officers, or ‘the bobby on the beat’ as stated by a forum member, are considered invaluable particularly with regards to gaining local insight and intelligence.”

Coun Watts said that the forum were “pleased” that a staff restructure in Swindon had allowed senior officers to increase the focus on community policing. 

A spokeswoman for Wiltshire Police said that the “pulse patrols” had previously been carried out in Salisbury, Melksham and West Wiltshire – responding to reports of drugs, anti-social behaviour, street drinking and other issues. 

Recent patrols in Swindon have targeted the Walcot area, following an incident in Sussex Square this month that saw a 17-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. 

A spokeswoman said: “The patrols see a heightened number of officers descend on an area for a period of time to patrol the area, actively engage with the public to gather any intelligence on issues and deter criminals from operating in the areas.”

Kevin Parry, chairman of Nythe Eldene and Liden Parish Council, which hosted Tuesday’s meeting, said: “The police are putting more officers out – that’s working well.”

Last year, residents in Liden and Eldene warned of growing problems with anti-social behaviour and thefts from cars. At an August public meeting, Mick Hanney, 62, warned: “If we don’t do something now, Eldene will become a ghetto.”

Coun Parry said: “Anti-social behaviour is definitely coming down now, but what we’re still seeing is car break-ins.”

The next community safety forum will be in March, hosted by Covingham Parish Council.