POLICE say they are satisfied with the results of the new Safer Shopping initiative - designed to keep St Helens town centre a safe place for Christmas shoppers.

The scheme was launched two weeks ago in conjunction with the St Helens Chamber.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Dale, said: "We are satisfied with our start to the St Helens Safer Shopping initiative. We are convinced that there is very little crime in the town centre but remain conscious that crime could be displaced, moving outside of the town centre.

"While we will take action to remedy that situation, we call upon the public to continue with their vigilance when parking their vehicles or shopping within the town centre.

"It is reassuring to be able to show that only one person has had their purse taken in St Helens town centre since the initiative started. We thank the public and the staff in the town centre stores for their co-operation and awareness in relation to these issues of safety and crime prevention.

"As a further commitment to making St Helens a safer place, we want to remind everybody of the launch of an amnesty across Merseyside to hand in laser pens which are circulating, having become a recent trend with youngsters. If used indiscriminately these pens could pose a threat to the public."

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