Swindon residents thanked for their response to the census, with 97 per cent of households in England and Wales completing their survey

The response to Census 2021 has exceeded all expectations, with 97 per cent of households across England and Wales making sure they count when it comes to local services like school places, GP surgeries and hospital beds. This completion rate is above the pre-census target of 94 per cent.

Phil Sooben, the ONS Census Engagement Manager for Swindon, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who participated in the census in the Swindon area to ensure such a good response; particularly those groups, charities and community leaders who helped to reach all of the local population and encouraged them to take part.”

Councillor Robert Jandy, Swindon Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Organisational Excellence, said: “The response to the census in Swindon has been fantastic and I am very pleased with Swindon’s response. As residents know, the census helps us allocate resources to areas where it is most needed, such as health and social services or new housing policies, evaluating equal opportunities or job training policies. We still urge those who have not completed the census to do so to help inform these local decisions.”

For those in Swindon who haven’t yet completed the simple online form, it’s not too late. Although the main field operation has now ended, the online questionnaire will remain open until 17 May, after which only paper questionnaires will be available. Any resident who has lost the letter or has a second address which they have not visited can go to www.census.gov.uk to request an online completion code for your address via SMS text message.

If people refuse to take part in the census, they could be taken to court and issued with a £1,000 fine and criminal record. The census non-compliance operation will begin on 25 May.

Around 350,000 households across England and Wales will also be invited to take part in the Census Coverage Survey (CCS). Residents from Swindon may receive a short, separate, interviewer-led survey will enable the ONS to verify the accuracy of the data and get a final view of the response rates.