Don't let them spoil your Christmas

The group of seven - including prolific thief John Barnes -- have all been banned from shops in the town centre after a series of incidents of begging and stealing from stores and shoppers in Burnley.

Now police have issued pictures so that last-minute Christmas shoppers aren't caught out.

Inspector Damien Darcy said: "We are committed to taking a tough stance against anti-social behaviour and criminal activity and are responding to the concerns of the local community.

"The town centre attracts thousands of people and has a thriving day-time and night-time economy, especially in the run-up to Christmas, and those people should feel safe to shop and drink without being targeted by a small minority of criminals.

"Some of these people have used the town centre a place to commit crime, beg, drink in the street.

"Groups of people hanging around begging and drinking can make people feel unsafe, it changes their behaviour and prevents them from using services and public spaces."

Research has shown that the majority of people object to begging and over half will not use a cash point if someone is begging near it.

Insp Darcy added: "The use of anti-social-behaviour orders on those individuals using the town centre as an area to commit crime is a proportionate and justified tactic to prevent crime and make the town centre a safer place to visit.

"Out of the all these people, subject to anti-social-behaviour orders preventing them from entering the town centre, John Barnes has a horrendous record of previous convictions, mainly for theft, and has used the town centre as a place to target vulnerable people who have momentarily left their handbags unattended.

"If he abides by the conditions of his ASBO he has nothing to fear but should he decide that he is going to enter the town centre, therefore breaching his ASBO, not only will the eyes of the police be on him but those of the CCTV and members of the public, who are now aware of his ASBO and he will be arrested."

Barnes has already been arrested in the last month after he was spotted in the town centre.

Insp Darcy said: "The message is clear to these people and others who think they can commit crime on the town centre -- the police, its partners and the public will not tolerate such behaviour and unless they behave they will face arrest, further anti- social-behaviour orders and ultimately prison.

"I would urge the public using the town centre to keep their eyes peeled and if they see anyone of these people in the town centre, contact the police, town centre wardens or CCTV via one of the help. These people will be in a position to monitor their movements and should they breach any of their ASBO conditions they will be arrested."

The seven are: Adrian Wilkinson, 24, of Albert Road Burnley, given an ASBO in May last year for theft offences; Anthony Archer, 25, of Sandhurst Street, Burnley, given an ASBO in July for theft; Julie Lee, 32, of Nuttall Street, Burnley, given an ASBO in August for theft; Paul McNamara, 29, of Ford Street, Nelson made subject of an ASBO in November for theft; Andrew Purvis, 25, of Augusta Street, Accrington, given an ASBO in November last year for theft from vehicles; John Barnes, 37, of Springfield Road, Burnley, given an ASBO in November for theft of handbags and Laura Thwaite, 25, of Berkley Street, Nelson, given an ASBO in July last year for theft.