Last week we reported that the new police area commander for West Oxfordshire, Chief Inspector, Colin Paine, was trying a ‘new’ scheme to tackle antisocial behaviour in Witney at the weekend. It involved taking officers out of cars and putting them, in numbers, on to the street.

We accompanied them on Friday night and are pleased to report that the idea proved a success, both from the point of view of the police and, just as importantly, from those enjoying a night out in the town.

As it turned out, Friday was an unusually quiet night in Witney, but, even so, it did appear as though the police presence discouraged crime and reassured people.

The increased police presence also appears to have helped decrease antisocial behaviour as revellers walked home.

Although we welcome Chief Inspector Paine’s scheme, what is more impressive is that he is willing to change it to meet changing situations.

Antisocial behaviour blights many towns and this move to increase the visible police presence is one that many places might do well to adopt.