LANCASHIRE Constabulary's Air Support Unit is tackling the problem of crime committed on the county's industrial estates with a new initiative called Operation Night Watchman.

The force helicopter supports the operational policing across Lancashire, and two previous operations involving the unit have proved extremely successful.

Although the number of offences at industrial estates are low, the nature of some of the properties targeted means the value of stolen property is often high.

PC Roger Moss explains: "Industrial estates are often sited on the outskirts of urban areas which tend to back on to open countryside and therefore are not overlooked.

"As a result means there are few witnesses to the crimes, which are often costly, added to the fact some industrial estates cover large areas and have easy escape routes on to motorways.

"Night Watchman will involve the force helicopter providing assistance to on-the-ground officers by flying over industrial estates on patrol in the sky above when en-route from operational incidents as appropriate."

Operation Night Watchman started on October 1st and will run until March 31 next year when its effectiveness will be evaluated.