Crackdown is a success (From Warrington Guardian)

Crackdown is a success

WINSFORD Community Action Team (CAT) is celebrating its success in stamping out bad behaviour on Bonfire Night.

The long term operation to ensure the safety of members of the public has been hailed as a huge success.

Police officers and community support officers began plotting a nuisance free bonfire season in September after consultation with shopkeepers in Wharton.

Sgt Ian Wood from the CAT team said: "As a result of these visits, both the Spar and Co-op agreed they would not sell fireworks.

"In addition to this partnership with businesses we had high visibility patrols out and about in the run up to November 5, making sure that any fireworks bought out of town were not being misused."

A hotline number to report nuisance bonfires was set up by Vale Royal Borough Council to ensure a quick response to residents' complaints.

And the combined efforts of the agencies paid off with a 10 per cent reduction of incidents involving youths with many people enjoying trouble free celebrations.

There was also a reduction in the number of incidents attended by the fire services.

Sgt Wood said: "The CAT is committed to making the people of the town safe and feel safer and we are always looking at ways to achieve this.

"We plan and conduct operations like these all year round to combat the problems that have a real effect on people's quality of life.

"The success of this most recent work shows that it's worth the effort."