POLICE have promised burglars a 'high quality service' as they step up their activity targeting vehicle crime and burglary as part of the ongoing crime crackdown, Operation Enforce.

The initiative, initially launched in October last year as a two-week blitz, has seen officers from Lancashire Constabulary's Eastern Division, targeting

hotspot areas in Blackburn in a bid to reduce crime.

The Operation initially concentrated on the town centre, Mill Hill and Fishmoor areas, but has now been extended to Audley, Brookhouse,

Whitebirk, the Infirmary and Preston New Road.

Extra officers, including area beat officers, Operational Support Unit, CID officers, Community Safety Officers and Traffic Wardens, will be used.

Judith Finney, geographic Inspector for Blackburn, is driving forward the operation. She said: "The success of the two-week crackdown has prompted the police to extend the operation and Enforce will run for the foreseeable future. We made some excellent arrests before Christmas and had a real impact on crime in the targeted areas.

"By using a number of tactics to disrupt known offenders, increasing the number of police officers on high visibility patrol and executing warrants at individual addresses we expect to see equally impressive results elsewhere in the town."

"Any burglary victim should expect a high quality of service from the police and we will be focussing on the victim as much as the offender in this next phase.

"Officers will be making additional re-visits to victims as well as conducting extensive house-to-house

inquiries in all areas where domestic burglaries have occurred."

The police will work closely with partner agencies including Crimestoppers, Action for Jobs and the Probation Service to help provide

long-term solutions for repeat offenders.

Inspector Finney added: "The message to those committing crime in Blackburn is very clear -- we know who you are and we will catch you. It is just a matter of time."