SIAN O'CALLAGHAN: Chief Inspector - "Swindon is still safe"

2:36pm Wednesday 23rd March 2011 in News

The Chief Inspector for Wiltshire Police has said Swindon is still a safe place to live and has thanked the hundreds of people assisting police in the hunt for Sian O'Callaghan.

Chief Inspector, Bob Edge said: "It is understandable for people to be concerned in respect of the disappearance of Sian but we need to take time to remember that our county is a safe place in which to live and work.

"We do have one of the lowest crime rates in the country and isolated incidents like these are very rare within Swindon and the rest of the county.

"Our efforts are fully focused on finding Sian at this time and we are very grateful to everyone who has helped.

"The public support has been fantastic and when required we will put any additional appeals for help on the force website and via the media and social networks.

"The use of social media can be a very positive outlet for information and we will continue to use it to provide public information and facts that aide this enquiry.

"However, I am also aware that there are a number of stories circulating on the internet regarding connection with other possible incidents and users need to be mindful that the accuracy of such entries cannot be relied on.

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"Some people will be asking what else they can do and even wondering if it is safe to go out.

"I want to emphasise that whilst there is no reason to believe there is any increased risk to anyone it is always wise to take basic and well known simple steps when we go out such as:

• Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will be home.

• Stay with friends

• Travel with your friends, if walking try not to walk home alone.

• Drink responsibly "Over the coming days Wiltshire police, our partners and members of the special Constabulary will be undertaking a number of high profile patrols in and around Swindon.

"These people will be able to provide additional information to anyone who needs it.

"We will provide any further updates via the force website or Wiltshire Police facebook site.

I want to repeat that our focus is on finding Sian and If anyone has any information that may help us please contact Wiltshire Police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111."

Comments(18)

checababe says...
3:15pm Wed 23 Mar 11

Lets now hope that the other stories that are doing the rounds on facebook now will STOP. Focus on whats more important which is finding Sian.

The police themselves have said "However, I am also aware that there are a number of stories circulating on the internet regarding connection with other possible incidents and users need to be mindful that the accuracy of such entries cannot be relied on.

Now stop putting things on facebook that you don't know are 100% true because all you are doing is spreading gossip and frighting other people. Put your efforts into helping finding Sian.

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LillianE says...
3:25pm Wed 23 Mar 11

Exactly, totally agree

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deepforest says...
3:52pm Wed 23 Mar 11

This poor girl has gone missing.... Swindon is most definetly not safe if she has been abducted... to claim that it is is to ignore the obvious. Panic won't help but neither will blind rhetoric

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Gemma09 says...
3:59pm Wed 23 Mar 11

deepforest wrote:
This poor girl has gone missing.... Swindon is most definetly not safe if she has been abducted... to claim that it is is to ignore the obvious. Panic won't help but neither will blind rhetoric
I agree with you

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mrsdoubtfire says...
4:23pm Wed 23 Mar 11

In total agreement with you deepforest.

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Maximo says...
4:44pm Wed 23 Mar 11

deepforest wrote:
This poor girl has gone missing.... Swindon is most definetly not safe if she has been abducted... to claim that it is is to ignore the obvious. Panic won't help but neither will blind rhetoric
The Chief Inspector did not say Swindon was safe. He said there is no reason to believe there is any increased risk. Whilst this a tragedy for Swindon and especially Sian's family and friends, I don't think you can claim Swindon is unsafe from an isolated incident. Benghazi is a place you would call unsafe!

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checababe says...
6:20pm Wed 23 Mar 11

Deepforest Where or when has it EVER been mentioned that Sian has been abducted. Nothing has ever been said that is what has happened to her. Again things being said that are not 100 % true.

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Pixie63 says...
6:55pm Wed 23 Mar 11

Nowhere is really safe these days, but until these people are caught of course Swindon is not safe, I hope people take care while out and about and before anyone critisizes me I have been out on the search.

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Robfm says...
7:26pm Wed 23 Mar 11

May I remind you all in another tragic event in Bristol not long ago an innocent man was condemned arrested and his life destroyed because of social media sites.

I sincerely hope this lady is found alive and well, but reality is Swindon is no different now than it was Thursday of last week, except an old lady in South Marston today was conned out of her money by evil people, and that hasn't been reported even though the Adver knew.

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Robfm says...
7:50pm Wed 23 Mar 11

The national news is reporting that the police are close to a resolution.

http://www.bbc.co.uk
/news/uk-england-wil
tshire-12830244

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Blackmalkin says...
7:57pm Wed 23 Mar 11

There was a lot of police search activity around The Marsh near Wanborough today.

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londonroadsmasher says...
7:57pm Wed 23 Mar 11

swindon is not safe,no large town or city in this country is safe,the police clown who said otherwise lives in a country that we dont no any more,ie a leafy subberb of devizes.try walking down manchester road at night.you will see the real uk,that we live in.

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Home Boy says...
8:40pm Wed 23 Mar 11

That depends on your definition of "safe". I've lived in a few different cities and must say that I feel a lot safer at night in Swindon than anywhere else I've ever lived. Obviously there is always some risk in a town / city of 200,000 people!

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shortstufftrace says...
10:10pm Wed 23 Mar 11

I hope for the safe return of Sian. I do think that this is a stark reminder that no matter how old you are -NEVER WALK HOME ALONE AT NIGHT.
It is a terrible feeling that both men and women are vulnerable if you do, no matter where you live.
Let's hope that whatever has happened since Sian started to walk home that she has been spared her life - my thoughts are with all Sian's family.

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ALS12 says...
11:34pm Wed 23 Mar 11

I have been quite fortunate to live in quite a few different areas in my life (18 years) from Warrington, near Manchester to Oxford and even abroad. And now I'm old enough to go out I've experienced the nightlife in each of these and I honestly feel safer in Swindon.
I agree totally with Robfm, the safety of people hasn't changed in the past week. If the same thing was to happen in just down the road people would still say Swindon isn't safe. Don't get me wrong it is unnerving but if people are smart about being out then something like this shouldn't happen again. But saying Swindon is no longer safe is, in my eyes, a bit ridiculous. Two years ago a girl the year below me was nearly abducted until she bit him and ran off, and this was in wroughton. But no one questioned the safety of Swindon for the plain reason she got away. But it still happened and unfortunately it does happen.

My thoughts are with Sian and her family.

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cushman says...
5:57am Thu 24 Mar 11

How can this silly man make a statement like this does he not read the papers! we've got this beautiful lady missing God willing she's safe! there's crime reported ever week in the adver drugs violence etc I'm a 62 year old man and even I won't walk the streets at night and Manchester Rd is a no go area at night you hardley see a Police Officer so how can he say it's safe on the streets of Swindon your out of touch with reality come view the streets and see real life! ask the people of Swindon what they think.

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zoso says...
7:30am Thu 24 Mar 11

Sian was walking home alone at 3am in the morning, an ill-advised thing to do for any young women anywhere in the country. It has nothing to do with whether Swindon itself is safe or not.

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cushman says...
8:41pm Thu 24 Mar 11

Now tell the people of Swindon this is a safe place to live in try telling Sian's Mum and Dad and family! people ought to be able to walk the streets in safety not be looking over your shoulder! and I still think they should bring back Hanging! God Bless Sian RIP

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