LAW-abiding citizens everywhere will be cheered by the revelation today of how a new approach to fighting crime in East Lancashire has led to hundreds of arrests.

It was less than three months ago that police in Lancashire Constabulary's Eastern Division drew up a 'hit list' of the top twenty offenders, based on intelligence on those committing most offences, those living in hot-spots for crime and those who were drug users.

Then, these 'most wanted' villains were specifically targeted, with police patrols taking place outside their homes and communities and with car number plate-reading technology being used to catch them on the move. And in that short time the system of officers breathing down their necks all the time netted 348 arrests. Also, as top offenders were crossed off as they were caught, replacements were added to the hit register, making it a "rolling" register of target crooks.

Crimes dealt with by this encouraging drive include possession and supply of drugs, burglary, theft, assault, criminal damage, conspiracy, handling stolen goods and driving without insurance.

Let the police keep up the good work and let's see this system widespread so that there really is no hiding place for villains. Above all, let's have it backed up by the courts with deterrent punishments that ensure crime does not pay.