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Crackdown on drunks and thieves
SECURITY is being stepped up in the city centre this weekend in a bid to ensure shoppers and revellers enjoy the Christmas festivities.
SECURITY is being stepped up in the city centre this weekend in a bid to ensure shoppers and revellers enjoy the Christmas festivities.While shoplifters, boozy revellers and pickpockets will be given short shrift by police in a crackdown on Christmas crime, officers and local church volunteers are also hoping to spread a festive message – enjoy yourself and be safe.
Under the codename Operation Cracker, high-ranking officers will join bobbies on the beat in a bid to step up patrols at city centre troublespots.
On-the-spot fines will be dished out to anyone found drunk and disorderly. Police will use hi-tech Bluetooth technology to pass on vital information quickly if purse dippers are believed to be operating.
They will also be targeting reckless drivers and anti-social behaviour in the heart of Peterborough.
And while officers work to crack down on crime, for the first time in Peterborough police will be joined in the city centre by Street Pastors from local churches to give a reassuring presence and a friendly face to people on the streets.
The Christian volunteers will be giving up their time between 10.30pm and 4am on consecutive Saturdays in the run-up to the festive season to chat to people and help those who are vulnerable and in need to ensure they get home safely.
They will be armed with water for those who are dehydrated and a brush and dustpan to clear up broken glass.
Nationally, the scheme is run by the Ascension Trust and is supported by the Home Office, but locally the scheme is supported by the Safer Peterborough Partnership, the police and Peterborough City Council.
Chief Inspector Kevin Vanterpool said the main aim of the operation was to keep the public safe.
He said: "Over Christmas, we have additional patrols on the look-out for shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related disorder.
"More officers will be out on foot and it is about responding quickly and also about giving people reassurance. There will be a significant number of extra officers in the city centre until Christmas Eve."
Ch Insp Vanterpool said key crimes they will be looking out for include shoplifting, while patrols will also be centred around the pub, club and shopping areas, including Queensgate, Lincoln Road, Bridge Street and Bourges Boulevard.
He added: "Shoplifting is a continual issue throughout the year but becomes more of an issue in the run-up to Christmas.
"People want to go out and get presents but are struggling because of the credit crunch. So some steal things rather than pay for them.
"We just want to get the message out to people to be a little more considerate."
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -5 C to -1 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
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Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
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