MUG shots of known car criminals and persistent offenders have been issued to car park attendants and Traffic wardens in Burnley town centre.

They are the latest recruits in the fight to crack down on car crime.

Since the introduction of CCTV cameras autocrime in the central area has been reduced by more than half.

In the latest campaign launched today, police and Burnley Council have worked together to find new recruits to watch out for car criminals.

Known car thieves and persistent offenders will be targeted, warned Burnley police chief, Supt Mike Griffin.

The photographs are from police files of convicted car crime offenders. They will be used over a limited period.

The first recruits are the Royal British Legion car park staff who have been issued with community radios. Traffic wardens will patrol the central area car parks specifically looking out for suspicious incidents and known offenders. The radios will put them into direct contact with the CCTV control room, the police and the other sixty users on the network. They have also been issued with high visibility jackets similar to those worn by the police.

Supt Griffin, said: "Combating the problem of car thieves is something we cannot do ourselves.

"The cameras have been magnificent but we need the help of as many people as possible to ensure we maintain these high reductions and possibly even increase them.''

Peter Stobbs of the engineering services department at Burnley Council said: "The car park staff are there to solve any problems members of the public have when they are using our car parks.

"The jackets will ensure they can be clearly seen by everyone when they are patrolling.

"We hope members of the public will report anything suspicious to the staff but more importantly we we feel criminals will be deterred particularly if they know our staff are in direct contact with CCTV and the police.''

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