A NEW police task force has been set up to target prolific offenders responsible for the majority of crime in the town.

The Neighbourhood Tasking Team, was created to pick up wanted criminals, monitoring known offenders and assist neighbourhood teams with problems.

Comprised of two sergeants, 10 constables and six community support officers, the Swindon unit has made 21 arrests in its first two weeks, including for drugs offences, money laundering, breaches of court orders and recalls to prison.

Similar teams have been setup in Melksham and Salisbury to tackle persistent troublemakers in those areas.

Inspector Phil Staynings, who is heading up the unit, said his team would be able to respond to crime trends and gather intelligence on regular criminals who are thought to be active in the town.

He said: “We are predominantly looking at dealing with our most prolific offenders, the ones we know are active.

“The idea is that we are proactive and dynamic, managing our resources effectively to make sure there is a greater presence on the streets and taking offenders off the streets quickly.

“We have done 120 hours of foot and cycle patrols in several areas and that is what the public want to see – more officers on the beat. This has also led to a drop in crime.

“We also work with the Probation Service and other agencies to see if we can find diversionary routes for them to get them out of the cycle of crime. For example if they are drug addicts then there are drug programmes available.

“It is a minority of people who commit the majority of crime and the public expect the police to be actively dealing with the individuals who are committing offences – that is the reason the unit has been established.”

Anyone with any information about crime or anti-social behaviour should contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.