POLICE in the Cherwell area are warning criminals there will be no let-up to intense policing in the district.

Almost immediately following Operation Jaunt, which tackled under-age drinking in the area's main towns over half term, Operation Jackal is carrying on the baton.

Police said a team of officers, supported by PCSOs, special constables, Cherwell District Council street wardens, and specialist teams such as the ANPR team, would be targeting crime hotspots' across the district.

Anywhere identified as such - a park, a street, a parade of shops - will be frequently patrolled by uniformed and covert officers.

Sgt Rory Freeman, who is leading the operation, said: "We are collating local intelligence by mapping where crimes have taken place and combining this with information gleaned from residents and our PCSOs, who are our eyes and ears on the street.

"We will be focusing on any area that attracts more than its fair share of problems, dealing with those causing trouble and making sure they don't return. I want to tell criminals not to bother coming back the night after we visit; we'll be there too."

Supt Howard Stone said: "After Operation Jaunt came to an end, I wanted that intensive policing continued, and Jackal does just that.

"The crime year ends in March and I want our crime figures to continue to fall. We are already looking at a four per cent reduction in crime for the year, below our target of three per cent, and I want that to drop even further.

"We can do that and I hope local residents in Banbury, Bicester and our smaller towns and villages will see the difference in their neighbourhoods."