A CANAL officer has been appointed by police to help crack down on vandalism and nuisance youths along Runcorn's waterways.
Paul Lumb, a Community Support Officer (CSO) in Halton's Community Action Team, will take action against youngsters caught misbehaving along the major canal routes.
He will also join teams of graffiti-busters hired by Halton Borough Council as part of a general clean-up exercise.
His role forms part of the borough's drive towards high-visibility policing, and will prove particularly beneficial during school holidays when levels of anti-social behaviour are likely to increase.
He said: 'I'll be dealing with problems where youngsters put themselves at risk of serious injury by jumping into the water.
'It has become like a scrap heap at the bottom of the canal, but the canals are not only a health risk to children. 'Something has to be done to protect travelling barges. There have been incidents where items such as shopping trolleys have been thrown on to them.'
