POLICE in the South Ribble area have launched a "low profile" road policing campaign.

"Operation Chameleon" will use of covert unmarked police cars and bikes to crack down on irresponsible drivers.

Sergeant Steve Moon, of the Road Policing Unit -- with offices at Ormskirk and Chorley, said: "Just because the public doesn't see a marked police car or bike doesn't mean that we are not on patrol.

"We have a number of options open to us when running enforcement operations including the deployment of covert vehicles.

"We know that officers in covert vehicles blend into the background and can counter the 'bubble of legality' drivers exhibit when they know a police vehicle is on patrol.

"Using plain cars or bikes means we can observe driver behaviour more accurately.

"A number of the cars and bikes are equipped with sophisticated video equipment which enable us to show drivers the errors of their ways after they've been stopped.

"That helps them learn valuable road safety lessons while an incident is still fresh in their minds."

Officers will be on patrol 24 hours a day -- in full uniform -- throughout Operation Chameleon.