DARWEN was being swamped with police officers today as a force launched its biggest ever one-day crackdowns.

More than 40 officers were attempting to sweep the town free of criminals, before leaving at the end of the day.

Over the next few months the operation will be run unannounced in other towns in the Eastern Division -- Blackburn, Clitheroe and Accrington.

Police are taking the radical move after the success of an operation over the past 19 months which has targeted the division's most prolific criminals.

Since March 2003, 2,287 people have been arrested as police drew up a rolling 'top 20' of the most active criminals.

But now police say they have targeted so many different people that they want to take a new approach.

So the 40 officers, from the support, armed response, dog patrol and road policing units, in Darwen were today throwing a net wide.

Tactics will include drugs raids, using automatic number plate readers and targeting people who have failed to appear in court.

Inspector Chris Hayhurst said: "We will be targeting those people who we know are committing crime, but also those travelling into town from outside the Lancashire area who may see us as a soft touch.

"I think it will be pretty clear we are not.

"The public want to see officers on the street fighting crime and these crackdown days will be just about as visible as you can get.

"These operations will build on the good work undertaken.

"The message to those people who are still intent on blighting ordinary people's lives through their criminal activity is very clear -- if you commit crime we will find you and arrest you."