POLICE are stepping up night patrols in Leiston in the run-up to the festive period.As the party season gets under way, they are gearing up for the seasonal influx at busy town venues on Friday and Saturday nights.

POLICE are stepping up night patrols in Leiston in the run-up to the festive period.

As the party season gets under way, they are gearing up for the seasonal influx at busy town venues on Friday and Saturday nights.

Leiston town centre is generally popular on weekend evenings, and police say they want to stop trouble before it starts by providing a high profile presence in the town as part of Operation Bastille.

Uniformed police patrols, both on foot and in vehicles, will be increased. The Leiston sector will be drafting in additional staff, and using hand-held videos record incidents.

Officers will be targeting violent crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour, and will be trying to ensure visitors enjoy a safe night out.

Sector commander Insp Ian Moore said the aim was to try to stop trouble before it started by providing a high-profile presence, and to detect any offences.

"We are building on the existing Pubwatch scheme, working with landlords to provide a good environment for a night out in welcoming and safe surroundings," he said.

"We want people to go our in Leiston and enjoy themselves but we won't tolerated violence or disorder. This kind of behaviour can spoil other pub-goers' night out, as well as causing problems for residents, and is simply not acceptable."

The Pubwatch scheme is an attempt to build closer relationships between landlords and landladies, and with police and the district council. Its aim is to work together to tackle violence or anti-social behaviour that may occur in the town.