POLICE swooped on Andover town centre at the weekend as part of a Safer Streets campaign to reduce the fear of crime.

Friday night's police operation, the first of its kind, targeted illegal drug users, rogue licensees and drunken troublemakers in a pre-Christmas blitz.

The evening saw 19 specially designated officers joining on-duty police to patrol the town's popular nightspots using some of the county's most sophisticated surveillance technology.

The operation, lasting from 9pm to 4am, involved a drugs dog, cycle helmet CCTV technology and a police 4x4 with cameras on the front and back.

The cameras could record evidence of bad behaviour while black Labrador Amara could smell traces of illegal drugs from up to 40 feet away.

Shockingly, last year's crime statistics show that 25 per cent of non-domestic assaults in Andover took place in the town centre.

"People say they are afraid to come into Andover at a certain time of night - and that's not acceptable," said Insp Shona Hood.

Although no arrests were made, police say that Operation Dennison was part of on-going plans to create a safer town centre at the weekend.

"Many intoxicated people spill out onto the streets at closing time and while they wait for taxis or takeaway food, the area becomes a catalyst for violence, anti-social behaviour or acts of criminal damage.

For the full story see Friday's Andover Advertiser