POLICE want to increase community intelligence by meeting the public in McDonald’s.

Officers believe they will get better access to a broader range of people at the fast food chain in Greenbridge Retail Park.

General meetings at community centres, libraries and churches see only a handful of people turn up at any one time, said police.

Now this idea will be piloted by the Stratton St Margaret, Covingham and Nythe Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) to see how successful it can become.

PC Lisa Draper, the community beat manager for the area, said: “We hope it’s an idea that will take off.

“The public will see we’re here and might want to chat to us about issues affecting their area.

“It could also help us increase community intelligence. I think it’s worth a try.

“McDonald’s is in a central location in the community and we’re hoping the footfall will be high.

“Previous police meetings have seen low public turn-outs, so this is something that might allow us to speak to wider ranges of people.

“I’m hoping it’s something the younger generation will want to get involved with.

“It might even be problems people are experiencing living in other areas and we can pass that information onto that NPT.”

PC Draper said this is the first time in Swindon a police meeting has been arranged at a food outlet of this sort.

Ian Roberts, McDonald’s branch manager, added: “Being able to work with the community police team is something very positive and could produce good results.”

The open meeting is planned to go ahead between 10am and 11am on Wednesday, May 19. It will be very informal set-up and members of the public can approach PC Draper and her team of police community police officers with any crime issues they may have.

If it is a success then other meetings could be organised at McDonald’s during the summer and other teams in Swindon could also follow suit.

Any information about illegal activity in your area can be passed onto your neighbour policing team by calling 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.