Cops' damage control policy

Sep 13 2007 By Dale Williams, Birmingham Mail

POLICE in Bentley, Willenhall and Bloxwich are getting tough on criminal damage in a three-month crackdown running until mid-November.

Offenders are being warned to be on their guard as a series of criminal damage arrest days are planned, at any time during the crackdown, to stamp out the problem.

Operation Seacow also comprises of a duo of dedicated officers who will attend every incident of criminal damage in the area.

The duo have been given their own dedicated vehicle in order to attend all criminal damage incidents and will also visit repeat victims.

Officers will also be cracking down on false reports of criminal damage and issuing fixed penalty notices to anyone found to be wasting police time.

Insp Greg Bates, neighbourhood Inspector for Bloxwich, said: "At this time of year, we traditionally see a rise in criminal damage offences.

"Operation Seacow is designed to address this rise before it happens, and deal positively with any incidents we receive.

"We will not tolerate offenders committing acts of criminal damage and will take positive action.

"This could well result in a prose-cution and the possibility of a criminal record for those determined to cause criminal damage."