POLICE are frequently under fire for having a profile that is not high enough to reassure people that they are being protected from crime and criminals.

People complain that too often officers are not seen out and about on the streets looking for criminals and acting as a deterrent force.

When incidents are reported some victims complain that police take too long to respond and sometimes do not turn out at all.

Against this backcloth the Operation Enforce initiative by the Eastern Division of Lancashire Constabulary to catch burglars and other offenders on their way to and from crimes is a welcome new weapon in the crimefighters' armoury.

In four days this week 237 vehicles have been stopped and more than 100 people searched close to crime hotspots in Blackburn, Hyndburn, Darwen and the Ribble Valley.

Ten people have been arrested in the blitz aimed particularly at catching people travelling into East Lancashire from places like Manchester and Bolton with burglary, theft or robbery in mind. Police say crime figures quickly dropped as word of the operation spread.

Innocent drivers, who may be irritated to have been stopped and searched, are being given crime prevention leaflets pointing out why the action is being taken and reassuring them that ultimately the actions will be for the benefit of all.

At present the visible lack of police on the roads after dark is doing nothing to deter people from driving around the region to commit crime.

Our town centres are quite well covered by CCTV cameras but while burglars might be worried about getting caught at the scene, up until now there has been little chance of them being stopped on the way home.

Putting the frighteners on them, and anyone else who has something to hide, is just what the police should be doing.