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Police in Northwich have teamed up with Cheshire West and Chester Council to tackle anti-social behaviour, using a mobile CCTV van.

 

Northwich Neighbourhood Policing Unit is using the council's van in the evenings in the town to help deter anti-social behaviour or crime and record any incidents that do happen for future evidence.

 

The van is also being used during the day and at large events in the area such as bonfire displays and Christmas lights switch-ons.

 

Insp Paul Loughlin said: "The van is first of all a deterrent. The camera is very obvious and there are signs all over the van telling people what it is and informing them that they are being recorded."

 

"Just having the van there discourages people from causing trouble. It also helps with evidence gathering as the footage can be used to identify any offenders."

 

Special constables have also been trained in using the van to assist Neighbourhood Policing teams as part of their on going operation to tackle anti-social behaviour.

 

The operation, led by Special Chief Inspector Celvyn Jones, sees eight more Special Constables on the streets in the area during the evenings and weekends, dealing purely with calls about anti-social behaviour or public disorder, alongside PCSOs and regular police officers.

 

Special Constables are fully trained volunteers who have the same powers of arrest as regular officers.

 

Special Chief Inspector Celvyn Jones said:

"Our aim is to reduce anti-social behaviour and public disorder in the west of the county and reassure residents that their calls are taken seriously."

 

"This is the first time the specials have run an operation of this scale and if it is successful, there is the potential for similar schemes in the future."

 

"We have a large group of active, dedicated Special Constables in the west which allows us to run large projects like this one which hopefully will make a positive difference to residents' lives."

 

Special Constables, police officers and PCSOs will also be working to tackle underage drinking under ArcAngel, Cheshire Constabulary's partnership approach to tackling alcohol related crime.

 

The Special Constables will confiscate alcohol from underage drinkers, contact the young person's parents and hand over their details to the Neighbourhood Policing Team for that area.

 

People caught buying alcohol for young people or shops selling it to under 18s will also be the target of the operation.

For more information on becoming a Special Constable in Cheshire, visit the jobs section of the Cheshire Constabulary website at www.cheshire.police.uk.

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