Police target town's yobs

POLICE in Hadleigh have today vowed to target the yobs damaging property and selling drugs on the streets of the town.

Officers in the area will be running regular operations to rid the market town of criminals and those committing anti-social behaviour.

As revealed in The Evening Star last month, residents and community groups had expressed concern about growing crime levels in Hadleigh.

Forty crimes were reported in the town in one month, including four suspected arsons, twelve broken windows at the town hall and a burglary at a business premises.

Police are now fighting back and began their first intensive operation on Friday night .

Officers from Hadleigh sector joined with volunteers from the Special Constabulary and Ipswich police to act as a deterrent to those wanting to cause a nuisance.

Inspector Bob Cracknell, Hadleigh sector commander, said: “We intend to run this type of initiative regularly.

“As well as detecting crime, the deterrent effect has great value.

“The firm but fair approach towards underage drinking and anti-social behaviour is making a difference.”

The initiative, codenamed Operation Faro, saw one person arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and an earlier assault.

Two youngsters also had substantial amounts of alcohol confiscated from them and letters will be sent home to their parents.

Uniformed and plain clothes officers were out en masse and were joined by the passive drugs dog to help catch those taking or dealing drugs.

However, no drugs were found during the course of the investigation.

There were also no reports of criminal damage in Hadleigh town centre on Friday night.

Insp Cracknell added that he wanted to thank members of the Special Constabulary for their assistance in the operation.

Have you been a victim of crime in Hadleigh? Tell us your experience? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.