POLICE in Halton are stepping up patrols in the town centre of Widnes and Runcorn in a bid combat an annual rise in crime seen over the festive season.

Crime analysis never fails to reveal a rise in crime during the festive season as cars are left loaded with expensive gifts and pickpockets mingle with crowds of Christmas shoppers in a bid to find an easy haul.

But last year the police stepped up patrols in the town centre shopping areas of Widnes and Runcorn to deter crooks and reassure the public.

Last year's Operation Blue Christmas proved such a success that police chiefs have decided to relaunch the campaign, which involves high visibility patrols in retail areas and car parks.

Crime figures show that during last year's operation there was a 28% decrease in thefts from shops, criminal damage to vehicles was down 18% and thefts from vehicles had fallen by 38% by comparison with the same period in December 2002.

And since the launch of the campaign at the weekend the police have teamed up with shop staff to pinpoint known shoplifters and prevent them committing crime.

The operation will run until the new year.

Running hand-in-hand with Blue Christmas is Operation Yellow Christmas which targets anti-social behaviour, public order offenders and young people making a nuisance of themselves at night. Operation Yellow Christmas will run from December 19-24.

Last year's Operation Yellow Christmas saw incidents of drunkenness between 7pm-3am fall by a quarter by comparison with the previous year.

Supt Dave Booth, commander of Halton police division, said: 'The public welcome the increased police presence during this time of year and we want to make sure residents can enjoy the festive season in safety.'