Cop cards: Christmas message to criminals

Officers in the police's Pennine Division, which covers Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, are hand delivering Christmas cards to known burglars with a special message inside: "See You in the Next Millennium."

The card, which features a picture of Santa and his reindeer on the front, also has the message: "Your local police will be actively targeting known burglars this Christmas. We're thinking of you at this time of year."

Divisional Commander Chief Supt Ian McPherson said: "We want to disrupt the lives of persistent offenders who are responsible for the majority of crime.

"We know that a small number of criminals commit a large number of offences. In Burnley last year some 100 offenders committed half the detected crimes.

"By stopping these offenders we can reduce crime." Inspector Neil Chessell, of Burnley police, said: "The cards are being sent to known burglars warning them we are aware of them as a deterrent measure.

"We're sending a message to offenders that we are aware of them."

Inspector Chessell said intelligence on offenders and crime "hot spots" was gathered before deciding which individuals should receive a card, which has the Lancashire Constabulary Pennine Division logo inside it.

It is the first scheme of its kind in Lancashire although the idea has been used elsewhere in the country.

The scheme is part of Operation Flaunt, a high-profile policing campaign running throughout the division this month.

Funding for the cards has been provided by the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime and the Home Office Crime Reduction Programme, Burglary Safe in Burnley and Operation Fightback in Bacup.

Other initiatives included using a mobile CCTV security camera van to focus on known trouble-spots and mounted officers patrolling town centres in the busy run-up to Christmas.

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