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Police horses ride to the rescue
BURNLEY police are using extra horse power as they crackdown on crime during the lead up to Christmas.
After a recent rise in shoplifting, burglaries and car crime several officers from the Mounted Branch have been drafted in to help deter criminal activity and reassure the public.
And they are already making a difference according to Insp. Jez Holland.
"We carried out extra mounted police patrols last month and they were very well received both by local officers here in Burnley and by members of the public," he said. "The police horses are a fantastic resource to us – they get to places where we can't get a patrol car and the officers working on the horses can often see activity which might otherwise go un-noticed.
"On Tuesday night for example, one of the mounted officers disturbed someone acting suspiciously in the Leyland Road area. They weren't arrested but they were potentially prevented from committing crime which is good news for the people living in that area."
The horses will be on patrol throughout the month of November and will mainly be patrolling the outskirts of the town centre.
Insp. Holland said: "The horses will go wherever we need them and their main priority will be to deter criminal activity and to reassure local residents. They will also be doing some targeting work with each mounted officer having been given names and photographs of suspected offenders to look out for.
"Officers are out on foot, in cars and now on horse back too. All this activity significantly increases the risk of offenders being caught. Commit crime and expect to do the time."
Sgt Phil Carter, who is helping co-ordinate the operation, added: "They have had a massive impact on crime when we have used them in the past and are a valuable resource. We are going to be using them throughout the day during the month of November. As well as concentrating on the town centre they will also be sent out on warrants as well."
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: -3 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
