CIVILIAN patrols will soon be pounding the beat as part of a new initiative set to be rolled out in Park South.

The Street Watch pilot scheme will be the first of five in the Swindon area and has been mooted by Swindon Community Safety Partnership following a visit to a similar scheme in Hampshire.

And it has won the support of local resident Hilda Bushnell, 76, of Park South, who joined partnership members on the trip.

Mrs Bushnell, a former youth leader, hopes to lead a group of up to 20 volunteers in Park South and wants to break down fears people often have if they see a group of youths.

She said: “I believe young people are basically good they just need you to notice them.

“I walk the dog around the streets and observe and feel I’m half doing the Street Watch thing already.

“I feel Park South is not too big a problem, but I think it is important to befriend people and make sure they feel secure.

“I really believe this is a good thing and would like to involve the Gurkhas, who meet at Park South Library and I want to see the ministers of the local churches.”

Richard Palusinski, the head of community safety at Swindon Community Partnership, said it was about residents taking ownership of their community: He said: “We really want to try Street Watch out to see if its right for Swindon.

“It would encourage people in the community to work more closely together and it has the potential to reduce crime like low level anti-social behaviour because people are getting to know youngsters so they are no longer strangers.

“Often if you see a group of young people on a street corner your immediate reaction is they are up to no good, but this is designed to take away the threat and I think it could create a caring community.”

Volunteers are asked to give two hours a month and will be issued with high visibility jackets.

Inspector Nick John, the sector commander for East Swindon said :“It’s about communities standing up to be counted and people being responsible for their area and taking an active role in the community in issues that concern them but it is not a vigilante group.”

The idea has support from South Swindon MP Robert Buckland who said: “Such schemes need to be carefully coordinated and the police should undoubtedly be involved, but with discussions ongoing about how we tackle anti-social behaviour, I think this could be a very worthwhile and a very timely idea.”

Other areas mooted for the programme are West Swindon, town centre and Wichelstowe.