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Police chief: I want to cut crime

10:55am Tuesday 20th May 2008

comment Comments (45)   Have your say »


"I WANT Wiltshire to be the safest county in the UK in terms of violent crime."

That's the bold assertion of the county's new police chief constable, who says this goal is at the top of his priorities.

Brian Moore was appointed chief constable for Wiltshire Police in January this year. Previously he was deputy chief constable in Surrey, and having joined the force in 1975, he has served with the Lancashire Constabulary as well as the Metropolitan Police.

At the time of his appointment, Mr Moore said: "Wiltshire Police is a force that is already on the way back up. It is very interesting for me as Wiltshire has long vied with Surrey for the position of the safest county in England.

"It is the firm intent of my new colleagues and myself to have this force back where it belongs as soon as we can."

But the new police chief has taken this a step further and this week announced his intention to see the force at the top of the tree when it comes to safety.

"There is no reason why Wiltshire cannot be the safest county for violent crime in the UK. You only have to speak to the victims of violent crime to understand how it has changed their lives. They are now scared to go out and I think that is awful and wrong.

"So I now want to go toe-to-toe with those violent thugs and win."

Mr Moore said that Wiltshire was currently ranked in the top 10 of the safest counties, but that it could cut violent crime significantly by the police working with local agencies.

He said: "It will be hard work to achieve the goal as the safest county for violence in the country, but it will be a great achievement."

Domestic abuse was one of the key areas, which Wiltshire Police would be targeting. It was vital people felt safe in their own homes and safe on the streets of the county, he added.

It was also about creating safer environments for people to live, and Mr Moore mentioned the prostitution issues in Swindon as another key target. "It is unacceptable," he said.

While the chief constable admitted he would have no extra money to push forward the changes, unless people were prepared to pay more from police authority precepts, he admitted that the police would have to be smarter in using their resources to tackle violent crime.

He called on local communities to get involved in the fight against crime and also in other initiatives to protect their communities such as community speed watch schemes and to recruit more special constables.

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Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
11:14am Tue 20 May 08

I have a simple message for Mr Moore, park up the police cars and have your 'real' policeman walking the beat, in residential areas. Get amongst the community, make them feel valued and you would be amazed how it works. I know I was a community officer for two council estates that make the 'P' estates in Swindon positively luxurious in comparison. Working with schools, community associations and residents and engaging the young, the levels of crime dropped 75%. The essential element is having beat officers, and not PCSO's however well meaning. Unfortunately they are held in less regard than Specials, and no amount of publicity hype will alter that. The people need to see the police being proactive not just reactive. Bobbies on the beat is still the most effective crime prevention measure in the polices armoury, it just needs a bold CC to recognise it.

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NPB, Swindon says...
11:22am Tue 20 May 08

What a great shot of the town. Really selling the bustling and awe-inspiring nightlife in Swindon.
Walmsleys Suites covered in graffiti and good ol' BetFreds.

The town that dreams are made of.

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Chowmai, swindon says...
11:53am Tue 20 May 08

Having met the new Chief Constable and spoken to him at some length about the problems he faces and his vision for the future of Wiltshire Constabulary I was impressed by his honesty candour and determination to bring about change.
I have no doubt that the usual dogmatic vocalists of the comments section will rave about stagnation and the inability to change things. But I have seen first hand some of the things this man has already changed for the better.
I wish him every success and every support of the people who he and his officers work so hard, against all sorts of problems and diversity face.

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Russ The Manc, Swindon says...
11:58am Tue 20 May 08

I really hope he sticks to his word and things change it needs doing.

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MFM, Wiltshire says...
12:03pm Tue 20 May 08

Stop wasting time busting pot smokers is my advice!!

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Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
12:04pm Tue 20 May 08

Chowmai, I'm sure there's not a poster on here that wants anything more than success, however talk is cheap. We all have visions, whether those visions become reality in Policing terms can be easily measured lets wait a year and see the figures. It is then the time to start talking about success.

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Taxpower, Swinetown says...
12:27pm Tue 20 May 08

Chowmai wrote:
Having met the new Chief Constable and spoken to him at some length about the problems he faces and his vision for the future of Wiltshire Constabulary I was impressed by his honesty candour and determination to bring about change. I have no doubt that the usual dogmatic vocalists of the comments section will rave about stagnation and the inability to change things. But I have seen first hand some of the things this man has already changed for the better. I wish him every success and every support of the people who he and his officers work so hard, against all sorts of problems and diversity face.
you have seen changes? which one are you talking about?
1- dog patrols at night in Town center and problem areas
2- ID check and ethylic tests made randoms 24/7
3- stop and search increased on pedestrians and cars
4- increased number of rolling car patrol in neighbourhood and fitting each police cruiser with search light

What changes again did you see?

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Taxpower, Swinetown says...
12:30pm Tue 20 May 08

Robert Feal-Martinez wrote:
Chowmai, I'm sure there's not a poster on here that wants anything more than success, however talk is cheap. We all have visions, whether those visions become reality in Policing terms can be easily measured lets wait a year and see the figures. It is then the time to start talking about success.
I tell you, I will measure success on the number of police cruisers and officers I see in the town and at the moment I see maybe 1 car / day. Thats not reassuring where are police officers day and night and how many are beating the street? stop penpushers and get them out on the streets

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dindangdo, swindon says...
12:41pm Tue 20 May 08

I suppose there's a first time for everything but you will not cut crime if don't have a visable presence on the street and are to soft on crime ,plus the polically correct in are miste don't help. What this country needs is more stick and less carrot and if you don't like are laws leave the country

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bored, says...
1:58pm Tue 20 May 08

police deal with the fallout from other issues we need to build pride & respect up in Swindon both for ourselves, others & our town

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NIGE, PURTON says...
2:06pm Tue 20 May 08

simple solution to put wiltshire top of the safe list



move swindon into berkshire or oxfordshire

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Bobsyouruncle, Swindon says...
2:34pm Tue 20 May 08

I've lived in Swindon all my life and I've only ever been on the receiving end of violent/threatening behaviour once. That was in Purton. Sorry Nige.

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Russ The Manc, Swindon says...
2:44pm Tue 20 May 08

As the name says I originally come from Manchester and to be honest I have lived in Swindon for about 8years now, I think it is a fairly safe place to live already. Ok you have some scum bags/druggies etc but its not that bad.As for building respect etc we need to target the parents and the kids at the same time. I would love to see some of these so called hoodie thugs be sent to do National Service I reckon most would not last a week without mummy and they would soon learn respect..?

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Russ The Manc, Swindon says...
2:45pm Tue 20 May 08

As the name says I originally come from Manchester and to be honest I have lived in Swindon for about 8years now, I think it is a fairly safe place to live already. Ok you have some scum bags/druggies etc but its not that bad.As for building respect etc we need to target the parents and the kids at the same time. I would love to see some of these so called hoodie thugs be sent to do National Service I reckon most would not last a week without mummy and they would soon learn respect..?

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Grumpy, Swindon says...
2:47pm Tue 20 May 08

I agree with RFM, get the police out on the beat and in amongst the people, stop being so politically correct, leave off the motorists, do away with PCSO's, take really tough action against anti social behaviour and stop letting off so many offenders. Start doing those sorts of things and the public will support the police and confidence will start to be restored. Having said that, it is then up to the courts to deal with offenders properly. The current record of our local magistrates and the judges, such as Field, in dealing out proper sentences to convicted criminals is however sadly lacking.
So, is there likely to be any noticeable changes - no!

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Frontier(s), says...
3:04pm Tue 20 May 08

I still have great faith in the police force - although they often seemingly go out of their way to alienate the law abiding public.

However, I no longer have any faith whatsoever in our judiciary, who undermine and render pointless the good work of the police at every opportunity.

Until we have elected and accountable judges, instead of deluded wannabe social workers, I fear very little will change, regardless of the actions of the police.

The overarching problem is that there is no political will or inclination to deal with crime properly in this country.

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NIGE, PURTON says...
3:23pm Tue 20 May 08

Bobsyouruncle wrote:
I've lived in Swindon all my life and I've only ever been on the receiving end of violent/threatening behaviour once. That was in Purton. Sorry Nige.
Quite reasonable behaviour by whoever did it

I think we should have watch towers etc and guard dogs stop any swindoooos coming any further north than peatmoor :-)))


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Mick out West, West Swindon says...
3:30pm Tue 20 May 08

MFM wrote:
Stop wasting time busting pot smokers is my advice!!
No, sorry can't agree, if its illegal bust it.

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wendy, swindon says...
3:52pm Tue 20 May 08

I can never understand why people keep banging on about having police walking the streets, it's totally impractical, how much ground can you cover on foot, ridiculous! they do have 2 of their 6 officers on foot in the town centre on Fri/Sat nights, if they put the other 4 on foot how on earth could they respond to 999 calls! you want them to get tough, then moan if they do, you want them free from paperwork, but then tell them to arrest everyone all carrying 2 files of paperwork per arrest. I dont think anyone realises just how few officers we have on duty at any one time, I agree we need more officers and less PCSO's, maybe then we could spare some to do your walking!Personally, if I needed one of our few stretched officers in the night, I would prefer they had a car to respond to me, than to have to walk!The traffic police are a seperate team, to tackle the motorist and if you are a motorist and breaking the law, what makes you exempt to the hoodie in the town? I think our small team of officers do ok with the resources and powers available to them, if the courts would back them up instead of work against them, the streets would be safer still. It's not bad in Swindon, considering the amount of officers we have, most of them do a good job and are passionate about their work, it's a shame they face such hostility every day I would have given up long ago if I were them! I agree the yobs should do national service, that would sort them out, no court to protect them there!

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Taxpower, Swinetown says...
4:00pm Tue 20 May 08

wendy wrote:
I can never understand why people keep banging on about having police walking the streets, it's totally impractical, how much ground can you cover on foot, ridiculous! they do have 2 of their 6 officers on foot in the town centre on Fri/Sat nights, if they put the other 4 on foot how on earth could they respond to 999 calls! you want them to get tough, then moan if they do, you want them free from paperwork, but then tell them to arrest everyone all carrying 2 files of paperwork per arrest. I dont think anyone realises just how few officers we have on duty at any one time, I agree we need more officers and less PCSO's, maybe then we could spare some to do your walking!Personally, if I needed one of our few stretched officers in the night, I would prefer they had a car to respond to me, than to have to walk!The traffic police are a seperate team, to tackle the motorist and if you are a motorist and breaking the law, what makes you exempt to the hoodie in the town? I think our small team of officers do ok with the resources and powers available to them, if the courts would back them up instead of work against them, the streets would be safer still. It's not bad in Swindon, considering the amount of officers we have, most of them do a good job and are passionate about their work, it's a shame they face such hostility every day I would have given up long ago if I were them! I agree the yobs should do national service, that would sort them out, no court to protect them there!
are you seriously saying that there are only 6 Police officers covering Swindon on Week end nights? 6 officers for a quarter of a million people?

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Taxpower, Swinetown says...
4:09pm Tue 20 May 08

wendy wrote:
I can never understand why people keep banging on about having police walking the streets, it's totally impractical, how much ground can you cover on foot, ridiculous! they do have 2 of their 6 officers on foot in the town centre on Fri/Sat nights, if they put the other 4 on foot how on earth could they respond to 999 calls! you want them to get tough, then moan if they do, you want them free from paperwork, but then tell them to arrest everyone all carrying 2 files of paperwork per arrest. I dont think anyone realises just how few officers we have on duty at any one time, I agree we need more officers and less PCSO's, maybe then we could spare some to do your walking!Personally, if I needed one of our few stretched officers in the night, I would prefer they had a car to respond to me, than to have to walk!The traffic police are a seperate team, to tackle the motorist and if you are a motorist and breaking the law, what makes you exempt to the hoodie in the town? I think our small team of officers do ok with the resources and powers available to them, if the courts would back them up instead of work against them, the streets would be safer still. It's not bad in Swindon, considering the amount of officers we have, most of them do a good job and are passionate about their work, it's a shame they face such hostility every day I would have given up long ago if I were them! I agree the yobs should do national service, that would sort them out, no court to protect them there!
I agree yobs and girls should do national service. That take few bad drivers off the roads for some time too

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wendy, swindon says...
4:14pm Tue 20 May 08

Yes seriously! I was amazed to find out how few officers manage to cover Swindon, they are stretched to the limit, often get no breaks and work long hours to cover the work!

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Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
4:20pm Tue 20 May 08

Wendy the simple truth is that only 1 in 58 officers on duty nationally are out policing. That is because of wasted time filling in forms for the HO which has nothing whatever to do with effective policing. Stop the paperworks and you release the police to the streets. It works, I did if in a combined services town that was 3 times the area of Swindon, with 3 times the population. Our average section was 12 officers, plus specials all working together. With local beat offices in their own areas, the response times were not greatly slower than a car, and certainly quicker than the 45 minutes if you're lucky now. It are those at the top who have to have the bottle to stand up to HMG, but because they are appointed by the HO, they are frankly gutless. This is why UKIP have said they would have Police Chiefs locally elected and locally accountable. In that way the public will get the policing they want, not initiatives HMG want to 'show' they are doing something. As I said the solution is simple.

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emmylou83, Stratton says...
4:25pm Tue 20 May 08

Ummm if you go out on a saturday night in town there are alot more than 6 officers there and I mean proper ones not pretend ones

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Taxpower, Swinetown says...
4:36pm Tue 20 May 08

emmylou83 wrote:
Ummm if you go out on a saturday night in town there are alot more than 6 officers there and I mean proper ones not pretend ones
you want real police go and have a look at the Southafrican police. you wouldn't mess about even after 6 pints down

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BWB, SWINDON says...
4:40pm Tue 20 May 08

WENDY
Best comment made
so far.
I agree with Grumpy also. Courts must start backing the Police by dealing out PROPER sentences.
And NOT listen to the sob stories made by their legal representatives.
We all know who that is. (r.r).

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wendy, swindon says...
4:43pm Tue 20 May 08

RFM, So you had about the same amount of officers as we have, I agree about paperwork, so would all officers!! but everyone blames the officers and the point I am trying to make is that it is not the officers fault, they do their best and work long long shifts to try to cover their heavy workload, they are made to do all that ridiculous paperwork in triplicate, find an officer in Swindon who would rather do the paperwork than be out on the beat, you will not find one!! Due to the lack of officers, they often do their paperwork after their busy shift, it puts on average a further 3/6 hours on the end of a night shift!!The officers would love things to be different, so don't paint them to be so bad, they too are a tax payer, with families and children wanting a better society, their not a different breed!! I still struggle to see how a response call can be quicker on foot than in a car with blues&2's, but still, I would be in agreement to try your method if it made it better for the police, safer for us and them and more efficient all round. Bet it amazes you too as you seem to have experience of this, the number of people who think we have loads of officers on duty, then wonder why a response time is 40 minutes and blame the poor devils attending, they just don't realise what a good job 4 - 6 officers do every weekend night in Swindon, I wish people would give them a break ay!

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Taxpower, Swinetown says...
4:46pm Tue 20 May 08

BWB wrote:
WENDY Best comment made so far. I agree with Grumpy also. Courts must start backing the Police by dealing out PROPER sentences. And NOT listen to the sob stories made by their legal representatives. We all know who that is. (r.r).
Police and Justice are fighting each others, even if the Courts side with the Police and the Citizens (hardly ever happens) there is nowhere for criminals to be jailed, because Labours for the last 10 years been building Hospitals and Schools and Flats!

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wendy, swindon says...
4:46pm Tue 20 May 08

BWB, thank you. Emmylou, there may be back up called in from other areas, H/Worth/Bassett etc, or Traffic, but believe me I know, 6 officers is average!

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wendy, swindon says...
4:49pm Tue 20 May 08

Taxpower, another nail on the head! whats the point in them wasting time arresting, when if the court do have a funny five mins, there would be no room at the Inn !!

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emmylou83, Stratton says...
4:49pm Tue 20 May 08

wendy wrote:
BWB, thank you. Emmylou, there may be back up called in from other areas, H/Worth/Bassett etc, or Traffic, but believe me I know, 6 officers is average!
Even if it is back up they are still there, if I remember on Saturday I'll shall count them and ask them where they are from :)

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Taxpower, Swinetown says...
4:57pm Tue 20 May 08

wendy wrote:
Taxpower, another nail on the head! whats the point in them wasting time arresting, when if the court do have a funny five mins, there would be no room at the Inn !!
totally agree, If I was a PC and saw my catch being let off by the courts time after time, I wouldn't be too motivated. It is a great point to make that the Justice system isn't backing the Police, People and Politicians make the police responsible but at the end of the day, It is the judges that are failing us

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merv, swindon says...
5:13pm Tue 20 May 08

violent crime so i take they will be looking a doormen them in lets say said so areas mr brain moore has ignored victims of violent crime and i should know after the damage a doorman caused i hope mr moore reads this he will know who i am

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WTF?, Swindon says...
6:42pm Tue 20 May 08

Police chief: I want to cut crime


And I want......

Idiot.


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WTF?, Swindon says...
6:43pm Tue 20 May 08

merv wrote:
violent crime so i take they will be looking a doormen them in lets say said so areas mr brain moore has ignored victims of violent crime and i should know after the damage a doorman caused i hope mr moore reads this he will know who i am
Have you read that back to yourself?

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john c, swindon says...
6:50pm Tue 20 May 08

merv wrote:
violent crime so i take they will be looking a doormen them in lets say said so areas mr brain moore has ignored victims of violent crime and i should know after the damage a doorman caused i hope mr moore reads this he will know who i am
Please will someone translate this for me?

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Captain Sensible, Near Swindon says...
7:15pm Tue 20 May 08

'Police chief: I want to cut crime' Blimey, there's a turn up for the books, and I thought they were there only to protect criminals and persecute motorists.

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Jacko, swindon area says...
8:13pm Tue 20 May 08

Yet again we have another brainiac at the reigns.

I want a new helicopter, I want this I want that.

When you get hold of people who break the law you let them go.

Woman beaten up in own home. NOTHING done, even the log files where alterd.
Man beaten up by security guard at shop, arested imprisoned,and Oh dear nothing was stolen, all reciepts in pocket. hospitaised nearlly had heat attack. but a sfar as your lying colegues are concerned . THATS ALL OK.

WILTSHIRE POLICE YOUR A DISGRACE

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Jacko, swindon area says...
8:20pm Tue 20 May 08

This is why UKIP have said they would have Police Chiefs locally elected and locally accountable. In that way the public will get the policing they want, not initiatives HMG want to 'show' they are doing something. As I said the solution is simple.


A breath of fresh air. You,d get my vote

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merv, swindon says...
9:03am Wed 21 May 08

john c and wtf sorry i write quickly when something makes me angry here is what i ment. Violent crime is not only the clubing public who go out after working all week but the bouncers who are employed for the safeguard of the public have you ever witness someone outside a club getting a kick in by doorstaff I HAVE? I was a victim of a violent assualt at the C**B** which has left me lets just say with a permant problem I have contiues wrote to Mr Moore along with people who are furious no one was charged I have been ignored by Mr Moore for 5 months however taken another route that will in turn cause embarressment to the force and he will not be allowed to ignore my stance in this article Mr moore goes on about freebie coppers however on news last night he said I am not prepared to cut officers in place of the helicopiter however freebie coppers are ok to protect the public HELLO WAKE UP MR MOORE WE ARE IN THE REAL WORLD

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Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
9:07am Wed 21 May 08

Wendy, with respect I fail to see how you could possibly conclude I was knocking front line officers. I am not. My posts indicate where the problem really lies, and that is with the method of appointment of the CC, being a Central Government Political Appointment. Hence many senior officers change forces on a regular basis as Moore has done. The ability to release more officers to the beat will only be achieved when HMG allows autonomy to CC's, Labour will not, neither will the other 2 main parties. Imagine the embarrassment if one particular police service showed the others up. It brings to mind when my wife worked for the gas board, they had a work study of departments. She was one of 3 in her office. The overall building efficiency was 67%, her office was 98%, result cut he office to 2.

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Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
9:41am Wed 21 May 08

merv, I sympathise with your plight and have no wish to engage in the whys and wherefores. I will however say that the reason the Police are probably reluctant to take action is because yet again another HMG initiative, The Security Industry Authority, has been found seriously lacking 2 years on the whole system of regulating door staff is a complete shambles. It may well be that there are still unregistered door man because the police cannot afford to highlight this, as there are insufficient badge holders already due to the nature of the qualifications necessary, literally thousands have just walked away. Imagine a seasoned 'bouncer' having to attend a course that talks about, 'risk management', 'conflict resolution' and the like. Speaks for itself really. It has been another, like the Licensing Act 2003, an unmitigated disaster.

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Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
9:42am Wed 21 May 08

merv, I sympathise with your plight and have no wish to engage in the whys and wherefores. I will however say that the reason the Police are probably reluctant to take action is because yet again another HMG initiative, The Security Industry Authority, has been found seriously lacking 2 years on the whole system of regulating door staff is a complete shambles. It may well be that there are still unregistered door man because the police cannot afford to highlight this, as there are insufficient badge holders already due to the nature of the qualifications necessary, literally thousands have just walked away. Imagine a seasoned 'bouncer' having to attend a course that talks about, 'risk management', 'conflict resolution' and the like. Speaks for itself really. It has been another, like the Licensing Act 2003, an unmitigated disaster.

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wendy, swindon says...
10:57am Wed 21 May 08

RFM, sorry I realise that you know the score, but alot of people don't and what is unfair for frontline officers is that when we comment on response times, police should be on the beat etc, many people only see as far as the officer and just cannot comprehend the politics behind them, it's a shame everyone wont accept where the real problem lies, although sometimes these comments pages are useful as I have seen peoples attitudes change which is great news, a step in the right direction..

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MrRandom, on your PC says...
11:15am Wed 21 May 08

Luckily I got out of the police when i did. The wheel in Wiltshire is about to fall off bigstyle. If he wants to cut crime he needs to sort his ACPO staff out then weed out all the other "brass" working 9-5 earning a fortune and doing nothing for it.

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Comments are closed on this article.

Wiltshire's chief constable Brian Moore, right, visited Swindon town centre on a Friday evening in January Wiltshire's chief constable Brian Moore, right, visited Swindon town centre on a Friday evening in January

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