Police Op Cuts Crime in P'boro

12 April 2011, 12:03 | Updated: 12 April 2011, 12:25

Operation Retain, which was launched a year ago, has seen officers "meeting and greeting" people coming to the city centre in the early evening on Fridays and Saturdays.

The officers have made their presence known, given people advice and ensured any possible problems are nipped in the bud before they have a chance to escalate.

Since the beginning of April last year, 311 arrests have been made for various offences, 221 people have been stopped and searched, and 48 people have been given fines for minor disorder.

Officers have also made 1300 visits to pubs and bars to ensure they are complying with their licensing obligations, including not selling alcohol to those who are drunk.

Annual force figures reveal that alcohol related incidents, anti-social behaviour and violent crime have fallen in the city centre area compared to the year before.

April to April Figures for 2009/10 and 2010/11 show alcohol related incidents fell by 15.4 per cent, from 887 to 750, and anti-social behaviour incidents fell by 11.2 per cent, from 1406 to 1248.

Over the same period, most serious violence (GBH and wounding) fell by just over 17 per cent, from 35 to 29, and less serious violence (ABH) fell by just over 25 per cent, from 287 to 215.

Chief Inspector Mick Bruce said: "While these figures are encouraging, we must not be complacent and will continue to focus efforts on the city centre at weekends throughout the summer and beyond."