A PRE-Christmas crackdown on crime prevented 200 homes in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale areas being burgled over the festive period.

Operation Flaunt, which ran for three weeks, targeted known offenders - and break-ins were cut by 44 per cent.

During the period 108 people were arrested - 32 of which were in police terms 'core criminals'.

All crime in the area was reduced by 29 per cent with 400 fewer victims this year than last, violent crime was reduced by 16 per cent with 21 fewer victims, there were 200 less victims of burglaries and car crime was reduced by 25 per cent with 110 fewer victims. Inspector Mike Bryant said: "This operation was a success and the objectives we set have been achieved.

"The operation was aimed at tackling core criminals who commit continuous crime but these operations also have a fall out.

"We lock someone up and search their house and end up locking another three up that are their associates.

"Hopefully it is something that has increased confidence and satisfaction among the public.

"We have also reduced the amount of disorder and anti-social behaviour by the same sort of activities. Part of our strategy was to use pro-active policing in the town centres, by using a mobile CCTV unit, putting more police officers into the area, speaking to doormen and sending letters to licensees to reduce the amount of disorder on the streets. "We have not been running the operation over Christmas but we have been monitoring the situation since. We are still 24 per cent down in all crime, 12 per cent in violent crime, 42 per cent in burglaries, 15 per cent in auto crime and 15 in disorder and anti-social behaviour.

"So even though the operation stopped, the effect of it carried on over the Christmas period.

"We will now have to keep an eye on that so that we can plan when we are going to do it again and where.

"People knew other people were being arrested and they didn't want to be, so I think they just stopped committing crime.

"It is not a case of Flaunt has finished and all the criminals can come out of their houses again and do what they want. Our tactical plans will carry on.

"Operation Flaunt was a tremendous success."

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