South Swindon’s police inspector said his officers’ priority was to tackle the area’s emerging gang culture.

Insp Dave Hobman made the comments at a community safety meeting for parish councillors.

The experienced officer, who is responsible for the south Swindon community policing team, told councillors the gangs were believed to be organised by the county lines drug gangs.

Involvement from these out-of-town drug dealers was leading to violence, drugs and exploitation, Insp Hobman said, according to meeting minutes published this week by South Swindon Parish Council.

Police, the probation service, the borough’s children’s services and other agencies were working together to tackle the emerging gang culture.

At the July meeting, Insp Hobman said over the past five weeks there had been a special operation in east Swindon and an extra 50 patrols by his officers: “Arrests have been made for weapons, drug possession and disqualified driving.”

Another man, who has since been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, had been arrested for kidnapping a teenager.