A Section 60 order has been brought into force across part of Swindon this evening after an 18-year-old man was stabbed during a violent incident in Redhouse.
Emergency services were called shortly after 4pm on Monday (24 November) following reports of a disorder on a footpath off Oakhurst Way, near the park. The victim was found with serious injuries and was taken to hospital, where he is being treated for wounds described as potentially life-changing.
According to Wiltshire Police, the suspects were dressed entirely in black, wearing balaclavas and riding electric bikes. They left the scene before officers arrived.
In response, police have enacted both Section 60 and Section 60AA orders across the area shown in the force’s released map. These temporary measures, authorised at 7.25pm, give officers increased powers to stop and search anyone within the designated zone without the usual requirement for reasonable grounds. The 60AA element also allows officers to instruct individuals to remove face coverings that may conceal their identity.
The orders will remain in place for up to 24 hours and will be kept under constant review.
Superintendent James Brain said the move was necessary to protect the public and assist the ongoing investigation.
“We understand how unsettling incidents like this are for those living nearby,” he said. “Our priority is to prevent further violence and ensure the community feels safe. These orders support our officers as they work to identify those involved, but they do not mean that people will be stopped at random. Usual stop and search procedures will still guide officers’ actions.”
He added that residents should expect a visible policing presence in the area while detectives from CID gather evidence and carry out enquiries.
Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with useful footage. Dash cam or doorbell recordings captured around Oakhurst Way at the time of the incident may prove vital.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting log 241 of 24 November. Anonymous reports can be submitted to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
