FOUR prolific criminals have been arrested in Hyndburn as part of an ongoing crackdown by Lancashire police.
Six offenders from the borough were on a hit-list of East Lancashire's 20 most wanted criminals as part of Operation Except, a month-long campaign covering Hyndburn, the Ribble Valley and Blackburn with Darwen.
The Hyndburn arrests were for offences including assault, stealing from motor vehicles and disqualified driving. An average of 40 arrests a week - more than 150 in total - were made in East Lancashire during the crackdown.
Other offences included conspiracy, handling stolen goods, outstanding warrants, possession and supply of drugs and motoring offences.
More than £200,000-worth of property was seized, including sports cars and Class A drugs.
The operation involved 30 officers from the Operational Support Unit, Road Policing Unit and the Intelligence Department.
A special incident room was set up at Accrington Police Station to monitor its progress and provide information to allow more arrests.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Smith, who is leading the crackdown, said that the operation would continue to concentrate on those responsible for crimes such as burglary, car crime and drugs offences.
He said: "This operation has shown what results a co-ordinated approach to fighting crime can have. This is how we will continue to operate.
"Operation Except is not a flash-in-the-pan affair - this is our core business.
"The message to criminals in Eastern Division has never been more serious - we know who you are and we will catch you. There is no hiding place."
