Christmas crimewave is cracked

Even senior officers have been surprised by the success after less than a week of the new initiative.

Hove police launched round-the-clock patrols in pedestrianised George Street on Monday and pre-Christmas crime has virtually disappeared.

In a half-mile radius of George Street in December 1999, there were 26 burglaries, 16 car crimes, plus a variety of other offences.

In the four days from December 11 to 14 last year, there were two handbag snatches, two burglaries, two assaults, two offences of shoplifting, one stolen car, one cheque deception and one case of vandalism.

In the same four days this year, thanks to 24-hour policing, there have been just two crimes and both have been detected. There was one assault and one case of shoplifting and both offenders were arrested.

The success is giving ammunition to those who have been crying out for more bobbies on the streets.

Shopkeepers in the area applauded the action.

Keith Brynden, who runs Brynden's DIY shop in Blatchington Road and is chairman of the Hove Business Association, said: "We totally back this police zero tolerance policy. Everyone is in favour.

"People feel safe when police are around."

Bob Miles, the manager of Boots in George Street, said: "It makes people feel more comfortable.

"There is always shoplifting and bag snatching in High Streets and the police presence will cut this out."

Hove police commander Superintendent Graham Cox did a shift there yesterday.

He said: "We had a serious crimewave this time last year and we are determined it won't happen again.

"Criminals know we are here and it will act as a deterrent."

Chief Inspector Stuart Harrison, of Hove Police, said his policeman father would spend hours standing at the same point in the centre of Hull where he worked and said: "I can understand why he did it now."

He said there might be a small displacement of crime to other areas, but most offences were committed by opportunists.