FOLLOWING on from my column last month I would like to tell you about some ‘behind the scenes’ planning.

Officers have been busy preparing two operational plans. The first is to provide additional daytime resources in town centres leading up to Christmas. Officers will be there to provide reassurance and assistance, prevent theft and deal with anyone involved in crime or anti-social behaviour.

While on this theme I would like to remind you to be vigilant. Don’t leave bags or purses unattended in shopping trolleys/baskets. Victims have also reported pickpockets using distraction techniques such as jostling you, asking random questions, mumbling or sounding like they’re speaking a foreign language. There was good advice in the recent Safe & Sound column by the Community Safety Partnership: “Make sure your purse or wallet is secure and out of sight in a place a pickpocket would find difficult to reach without you knowing.”

Report anything suspicious to the police or shop staff.

You should also avoid returning to your car too often to put shopping in it. Thieves may be watching!

The other operational plan relates to the ‘night time economy’ – pubs and clubs to you and me!

Officers will conduct high- profile patrols from early evening to late at night. As part of Operation Christmas Presence they will work closely with the Pubwatch and CCTV schemes across the district to promote safer drinking.

Anyone causing problems will be dealt with and more than likely banned from all pubs and clubs under the ‘Three Strikes’ initiative. You may have read in The Shuttle recently that six people were arrested following an incident of disorder in Kidderminster. Several of those involved have now received bans under the scheme.

With the festivities almost upon us these operations illustrate our determination to crack down on thieves and troublemakers, and to help ensure that the law-abiding majority have a safe and crime-free Christmas.

INSP PAUL CROWLEY, Kidderminster Police