MORE than 7,000 known criminals were arrested by police during a three-month 'Crackdown On Crime' campaign.

The countywide initiative, which featured more than 100 specific operations, has been hailed as a success by the hundreds of police officers and partner agencies involved.

The campaign ran from October to the start of the New Year and led to the capture of "high profile" drug dealers, binge drinkers, burglars, arsonists, career criminals, yobs and drink drivers across Cheshire.

Of the 7,620 offenders arrested, 83 are classed as "prolific" - with several previous offences recorded against them.

Inspector Gary Simpson, Head of Macclesfield's Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: "Some of the things during the operation would be normal activity the Neighbourhood Policing Units do anyway, but we just concentrated on putting it all under one banner and across the whole force area. It was also about being seen in the community."

While no figures are available for the number of arrests made in the Macclesfield area, Insp Simpson said that specific campaigns targeted truancy, fine and bail dodgers, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, while an officer was stationed at Macclesfield Hospital every Friday and Saturday night to crackdown on violent crime.

He also revealed that during the course of the campaign a police officer on bike patrol arrested a man seen prowling the Weston Estate with a knife at 4am, which led to a significant decrease in vehicle crime.

Assistant Chief Constable, Garry Shewan, who co-ordinated the campaign, said: "Drug dealers, career criminals, drink drivers, yobs and burglars have all seen at first hand the success of this campaign.

"Since the operations began in October different police teams have worked together on high profile operations to target the criminals making a significant difference in communities.

"The campaign has shown that if you are committing crime on any scale, from drug dealing to drunk and disorderly, we will catch up with you.

"We do not intend to rest now that the campaign is over. Police will continue cracking down on crime with a 100-day initiative on anti-social behaviour planned for the beginning of February.

"I would also like to thank members of the public who have played a significant part in this campaign.

"Your information and intelligence has been vital and we continue to appeal for your support so that people who profit from crime and make people's lives a misery can be taken off the streets."

A major part of the campaign was allowing the public to vote for the roads in their area most appropriate to target drink drivers. This approach led to 7,363 drivers being breathalysed - of which 339 were positive.

The crackdown on binge drinking and alcohol related disorder saw officers out in numbers in town centres throughout the county, while they joined firefighters and trading standards officers on more than 500 licensed premises visits to ensure that landlords are compliant with new laws and the terms of their licence.

Yobs were also targeted with officers on the beat to tackle anti-social behaviour and provide reassurance. Hundreds of litres of alcohol was confiscated during these operations.

The crackdown on uninsured drivers saw 182 vehicles seized since November 2005, when new powers were introduced to allow officers to take possession of vehicles at the roadside - leaving drivers to make their own way home.

  • POLICE launched a special 'Crackdown' mini-site which has so far received almost 10,000 hits. The website, which features a rogues gallery of people wanted for questioning, can be accessed at www.cheshire.police.uk .