81 caught in town centre crackdown on crime

EIGHTY-ONE people have been dealt with by police in Oldham as part of a three-month Christmas crackdown on crime.

Operation Snowboard involves police and Oldham Council joining forces to tackle shoplifting and theft from shoppers in the town centre.

In total 81 people have been arrested, summonsed or dealt with through restorative justice since October 1. A number have also been issued fixed-penalty notices for offences ranging from drugs and public-order offences to breaches of an anti-social behaviour order.

Sgt Danny Atherton, from the Oldham central neighbourhood policing team, said: “The results we have seen are great. But we’re not going to stop there. We’ll continue to target offenders in the town centre during the busy festive period.”