Croydon Police will make Christmas miserable for troublemakers as they promise to “ruin” their festive period.
Officers from Croydon police as well as representatives from the council and local businesses have teamed up to try and change the perception of Croydon and make it safer for visitors and residents.
From now until the beginning of 2010 an additional 20 officers have been drafted into the town centre from across the borough to be out on the streets on Friday and Saturday nights.
As part of the new unified presence, police officers and council workers will be part of a large, single force, targeting known thieves, robbers and gang members, stopping them entering the borough or causing trouble in the town centre.
Borough commander Chief Superintendent Adrian Roberts said: “If they are set on ruining other people’s Christmas we will ruin theirs and I do not think we serve turkey in the cells on Christmas Day.”
They will share information through the borough’s crime reduction partnership website about known offenders they want to keep off the streets.
Since the website’s introduction earlier this year Croydon town centre has seen a 24 per cent reduction on shoplifting.
In addition to this police will be using the powers granted to them under Operation Stay Safe to take any young person under 16 home if they feel they are likely to commit or be the victim of a crime.
Chief Supt Roberts said: “We want everyone in the borough to enjoy themselves over Christmas and New Year.- but most of all to stay safe.
“We’ve put in place a package of measures to deter and disrupt criminal and anti-social activity- we’ll be particularly targeting known offenders through our intelligence sharing with our partners.”
Councillor Gavin Barwell, cabinet member for safety and cohesion said: “We will do all we can to support the police in their work, with our teams of uniformed officers helping to provide a reassuring presence on the streets.”
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