IN VANS, cars and on bikes and feet, they were back in force for a campaign against crooks that make city residents’ lives a misery.

They were taking part in Operation Deluge, which aims to flood hotspots of antisocial behaviour, burglaries and robberies with officers.

This was the third time police officers were deployed as part of an operation based on “surge drills” used in the USA.

Southampton’s police commander superintendant James Fulton said: “This is a pilot scheme and if it proves successful, which we think it will be, then we will continue it longterm.

“We are always looking at new ways to tackle crime and we know anti social behaviour and the crime associated with it is a big concern to those people in the areas affected.

“It goes almost without saying that burglaries and robberies are issues that everyone wants tackled as well.

“We hope Operation Deluge will help cut crime in the areas targeted significantly.

“We have made huge steps to prevent and detect crime over recent years with 2012-13 seeing an 11 per cent reduction in anti social behaviour and 16 per cent fall in all crime.”

The operation involves drafting personnel from a wide range of backgrounds, including PCSOs, neighbourhood specialists, dog units and custody investigation teams, into a high visibility taskforce targeting carefully chosen hotspot areas.

The high profile patrols began in the Polygon, London Road, through to the High Street. Officers regrouped for a street briefing in Kingsland Square followed by a patrol in the St Mary’s area.

Using information supplied by the public, the officers compiled a list of most wanted people in each year, which is dished out to the officers taking part.

They then fanned out across Millbrook, Coxford, Lordshill and Lordswood before deploying to the Highfield area where the Daily Echo accompanied some of yesterday’s 30-strong team to Highfield area of the city, which can be blighted by yobbish behaviour.

Beat officer PC Hayley Goodsell along with PC Matt Bargh got out and talked to residents young and old, spotted flytipping before heading up the Bacon Hill Woodland.

The team then blitzed hotspots in Woolston such as the Victoria Road area and Centenary Quay as well as conducting burglary patrols in Portsmouth Road, Obelisk Road, St Annes Road and Oak Road before concentrating their efforts on the Weston Tower Blocks and surrounding area.

They then swept through Flowers Estate, Mansbridge, Rockstone Lane, Bannisters Park and Bevois Valley.

In total nine traffic tickets were handed out, two cars seized because of no insurance, beggars were dispersed on London Road and a 33- year-old man was arrested after failing to appear on begging charges.