'Crime-fighting blitz' to be launched this winter with increased police

NATIONWIDE crackdown on crime and antisocial behaviour this winter has been launched as police, councils, and businesses unite to protect shoppers, retail workers, and Christmas revellers.

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To keep communities safe over the busy festive period, police will use hotspot patrols, quick visible enforcement, and locally tailored approaches, working closely with businesses and community groups to clamp down on shop theft and street crime across hundreds of town centres.

The Winter of Action builds on the Safer Streets Summer initiative, which took place in almost 650 town centres and resulted in more than 16,000 arrests and fines, mostly for shop theft and antisocial behaviour.

The summer also saw targeted visible patrols up almost 20 per cent compared to the previous year.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Shoplifting and antisocial behaviour are tearing at the fabric of our communities.

“This winter we are launching a crime-fighting blitz with police patrolling our high streets across the country.

“This is part of our wider plans to fight crime with 3,000 more police on the beat by the Spring to catch criminals and make our communities safe.”