New policing commander outlines vision for a safer Swindon
Superintendent Mike Vass aims to improve visibility, engagement, and community trust
Superintendent Mike Vass, the new local policing hub commander for Swindon, has shared his plans to improve safety and community confidence during an interview on 11th December 2025.
Having served over 21 years in neighbouring Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Mr Vass brings extensive experience in operational and neighbourhood policing to his new role. He has been warmly welcomed by Wiltshire colleagues and is keen to address local priorities.
“It’s an exciting opportunity. I’m just really excited to get stuck into the problems and work with communities to make the streets safer and improve overall living in Swindon and Wiltshire,” Mr Vass said.
Reflecting on his ambitions for the coming year, Mr Vass outlined several goals to improve policing in Swindon, including increasing visibility and accessibility.
“I want more uniform visibility for communities to create a sense that the police are around, accessible, and open to engagement. Improving accessibility is a priority too – current front desk locations don’t always suit public demand, so mobile police stations or other provisions could be beneficial," he added.
Mr Vass aims to strengthen relationships with businesses, night-time venues, faith leaders, volunteer networks, and community groups to promote joined-up working.
“The faith leaders network in Swindon is already impressive, and I want to harness the power of groups like this, alongside domestic communities and businesses, to support us in delivering better services and to improve their areas too,” he said.
He also prioritised tackling serious violence and knife crime, drawing on his experience as a lead for knife crime initiatives in Avon and Somerset.
“I want to see our measures improve around reducing serious violence and addressing knife crime, which remains a key challenge. Collaboration with surrounding constabularies will help us police smarter across shared concerns.”
Mr Vass stressed the importance of building trust across Swindon’s diverse communities.
He shared his perspective on improving police interactions, particularly after using virtual reality to experience a stop-and-search scenario from a young person’s viewpoint.
“That interaction left me feeling intimidated and worried. Daily police interactions hold significant impact – I want us to improve how we engage with members of the public, ensuring the service feels professional and grounded in doing the right thing for the right reasons,” Mr Vass explained.
“This is all about spreading trust and confidence. I want the public, including my own family, to feel assured we’re there for the community.”
With his focus on collaboration, serious violence reduction, and visible policing, Superintendent Mike Vass aims to shape a safer Swindon for the future.