A PLAIN clothes police operation took place in Swindon to clamp down on anti-social behaviour and retail crime.

Officers from the Central Neighbourhood Police Team and the Neighbourhood Tasking Team conducted the operation across Swindon town centre.

This operation involved the team working in partnership with the inSwindon Street Team, shopping centre management and store security staff.

As a result of the operation one man was arrested for theft by finding when he took advantage of a shopper who briefly left a shopping bag unattended and an arrest of a man for breaching his Anti Social Behaviour Order.

Two men were also dealt with having been found in possession of herbal cannabis.

Town Centre Community Beat Manager, PC Claire Davidson, said: “Our team is committed to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour on the town.

"Plain clothes operations are one of several strategies that we deploy in conjunction with our partner agencies.

"We are committed to tackling those persistent offenders that commit crime and impact our community and this is one approach that will be utilised as we lead up to the busy festive period.”

Town Centre Sergeant, Rebecca Smart, said: “As well as providing these extra plain clothes patrols, we’ll be offering crime prevention advice to businesses and visitors.

"We will be keeping a close eye on the town centre area with the help of our shopping centre management in their CCTV command centre’s, store security staff and Street Team.

“Our aim is to work with our partners to ensure Swindon town centre remains a safe, pleasant place in which to shop, work and socialise.”

For more information on your location neighbourhood police team or to report a crime, contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously.