Operation Orange 3 ran last weekend and will be running every weekend over the summer here is a summary of what happened.

Friday 18th July 2008 was the last day of the current school year, traditionally there is an increase in anti social behaviour and drink related occurrences. In order to reduce the number of occurrences and provide reassurance to the community 20 NPU Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers and Special Constables took to the streets of Runcorn.

Staff targeted off licences offering advice to staff on the Challenge 21 scheme and ArcAngel. Pre -Operation leaflets had already been delivered under the ArcAngel and Consumer Protection Offwatch partnership.

A member of staff was deployed to the Halton borough Council CCTV room to monitor the cameras in the hot spot areas. He identified gatherings of youths and deployed patrols accordingly.

Officers were dedicated to repeat locations of ASB. These included Grangeway, Runcorn Hill & Phoenix Park.

Officers were equipped with hand held metal detectors to check for concealed weapons.

PCSO's were deployed to Rock Park, a joint venture between the Police, Cheshire Fire & Rescue and youths services for the 'Friday night in the Park event'

As a result of the operation:

• 3 persons were arrested for Possession of an offensive weapon (knuckle duster) as a result of the metal detectors.
• Two adults arrested for shop lifting at Grangeway, Runcorn.
• 1 person was issued a fixed penalty notice for £80 having been seen supplying alcohol to persons under 18.
• 92 vessels of alcohol, beer, wine, cider and spirits were seized during the night.
• On the night there was a reduction in youth related disorder with only 6 incidents being reported, this figure being lower than a normal Friday evening.

The operation is ongoing throughout the summer.

Also over the weekend the first Runcorn 'Frenzy-Nightclub experience' took place at Brookvale Recreation Centre.