POLICE launched a Christmas crime crackdown by raiding houses in Burnley early today and arresting several people.

Operation Flaunt is a high-profile initiative involving 50 officers targeting areas of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale where criminals are known to be active and crime is high.

The initiative was launched yesterday in Burnley and at 6am today the first warrants were executed. Supt Gary Stephenson warned criminals: "We want you to be frightened - not members of the public.

"We intend to significantly reduce the number of victims and give people the confidence that they can go about their normal business without the fear of crime and to turn that fear back on to the criminals by making them aware they are being watched."

Over the last month officers have been gathering intelligence about repeat offenders and areas of crime and these will be targeted in the run-up to Christmas.

Supt Stephenson said surveillance would continue after the operation and officers would return to known areas of crime.

He said: "We are specifically targeting those offenders we know are active and our intention is to raise the risk for them.

"We are also putting a significant number of officers in areas where we know there is a higher risk of crime being committed and we are approaching the public and giving them crime prevention advice."

The operation is also going to target disorder in the town centres by stepping up the number of officers and by speaking to licensees and doormen. Operation Flaunt is one of a series of initiatives that will be adopted by Pennine Division over the next 12 months.

Supt Stephenson added: "If anyone has any information about active criminals they can contact us in confidence on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111."

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