POLICE in Colchester have launched their annual festive crime clampdown – Operation Christmas Cracker.The scheme, now in its 13th year, involves high-visibility policing throughout the town centre to help make sure pickpockets, shoplifters, drunks and beggars do not ruin peoples' enjoyment of the build-up to the big day.

POLICE in Colchester have launched their annual festive crime clampdown – Operation Christmas Cracker.

The scheme, now in its 13th year, involves high-visibility policing throughout the town centre to help make sure pickpockets, shoplifters, drunks and beggars do not ruin peoples' enjoyment of the build-up to the big day.

It then continues until December 31st to make sure that New Tear revellers do not also wreck bystanders' experience of the town centre.

Thanks to forward planning – this year's operation was organised in July – a minimum of four extra police officers can be on the streets of the town per day without having to lose manpower in any other area of the force.

Officers involved come from all ranks of the police, including the town's Command Team, inspectors and sergeants.

Chief Supt Dave Murthwaite, Colchester's divisional commander, took to the town centre beat as part of his contribution towards Operation Christmas Cracker.

Chief Insp Iain Logan said: "We know that Operation Christmas Cracker works – it displaces a minority who behave badly from the town centre.

"We also get a genuinely warm welcome from people when we are out there."