A MAJOR initiative aimed at putting the brake on car crime in St Helens waslaunched at the World of Glass yesterday (Wednesday, July 4) by Merseyside Police's assistant chief constable, Grahame Barker.

Operation Hornet -- funded by the Home Office through the Targeted Policing Initiative -- is a comprehensive programme which will target offenders, those at risk of offending, and others in the crime chain.

The initiative, which addresses all aspects of vehicle crime, will also reach out to victims of car crime who will be given the opportunity to have immobilisers fitted to their vehicles free of charge, This will be done by vehicle apprentices at St Helens College. A high proportion of the cars in the St Helens area are small family saloons, often several years old and lacking the latest anti-theft devices fitted by manufacturers.

A specialist group of officers from the Merseyside Police Vehicle Crime Group will be helping local officers in the arrest of offenders and the identification of 'ringed' stolen vehicles and parts.

And as an alternative to custodial sentences, some offenders will be put under intensive supervision by police and probation officers in a multi-agency rehabilitation programme emphasising the negative and anti-social aspects of car crime.

A new youth offending programme is being undertaken to deter young people from re-offending and special attention will be paid to those at risk of offending.

Only 40 per cent of vehicles stolen in St Helens are recovered. And part of Operation Hornet's comprehensive programme will involve visits to scrap yards, second-hand dealers and car boot sales by police and fire service officers, Trading Standards officials and health and safety professionals.

Crime prevention leaflets relating to car crime will be widely available throughout the town and officers will be seeking the co-operation of the local community during the initiative.