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Police launch crackdown as vandalism rises

Michelle McKenna
6/ 4/2006

POLICE have launched a high-profile crackdown on vandals following a rise in criminal damage in the borough.

Officers have warned that vandalism will not be tolerated and are urging residents to do their bit by reporting incidents to the police as soon as they happen.

Sergeant Allen Davies of Accrington Police said: "Crime as a whole has shown a reduction but over the last couple of months criminal damage has shown an increase of about 10 per cent. Criminal damage accounts for about a third of the crime reported."

The campaign slogan is Who's Wrecking your Neighbourhood? and leaflets, posters and stickers reinforcing the message have been produced with funding from the Community Safety Partnership.

PC Helen Jackson of Great Harwood Police said: "The main message is see it, report it, stop it. We are trying to educate people on how to report it. Do it at the time you see it, not the following morning.

"Criminal damage is one of the main problems in Hyndburn and we are looking to reduce its impact.

"We are looking at crime and grime initiatives, positive action, fixed penalties and people getting arrested at the time.

"With young people under the age of criminal responsibility we will be looking at education in different ways, through reparation schemes and so on.''

Sgt Davies added: "We want to encourage people to bring information to us and we are happy for that to be done anonymously if people prefer. Positive action will be taken from that information."

Police in Great Harwood have already arrested several youths who caused criminal damage in March and seven people have been arrested in Accrington in the last fortnight.

There will be an increase in high-visibility patrols, leaflets will be delivered to houses in Hynd-burn and police will be going into schools to talk to youngsters about criminal damage and the impact it has on communities.

Oswaldtwistle has been identified as a problem area and will be targeted by police from Accrington over the next two weekends.

Officers will be joined by special constables and will be using hand-held CCTV cameras to gather evidence.

The campaign will run in conjunction with Operation Summer Nights, which was launched last year to tackle drink-related anti-social behaviour.