ENFORCEMENT officers were today tackling a range of offences in Felixstowe - in a surprise sweep across the resort.

Richard Cornwell

ENFORCEMENT officers were today tackling a range of offences in Felixstowe - in a surprise sweep across the resort.

The team, identified by high visibility uniforms, was cleaning up the area as well as carrying out checks on truancy, targeting anti-social behaviour, visiting off licences and small shops to investigate under-age sale of alcohol and cigarettes, removing graffiti, and checking for vehicle offences.

Called an IMPACT event, the aim was to give residents the chance to see a range of agencies working together on the ground and making a real difference to the area.

As well as allowing agencies to tackle problems there and then, officers said the sweep was also important as it allowed them to pick up longer-term intelligence on problems or issues.

The multi-agency team included police, Suffolk Fire and Rescue officers, Trading Standards officers, Suffolk Coastal District Council's anti-social behaviour, substance misuse, community safety, environmental health, and pest control departments, and Suffolk County Council sections.

Members of the roads agency VOSA, traffic police, HM Customs, and Environment Agency were taking vehicles off the road and to check them for defects and other offences.

A county council spokeswoman said the event coincided with the Not in my Neighbourhood Week and team members were also providing advice and delivering information leaflets to residents to inform them of the action taking place to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and make their communities safer.