A HIGH-profile police operation is to be mounted in Blackburn aimed at making the town centre safer for people enjoying nights out.

Operation Exile will bring extra police officers into the town over a two-day period to crackdown on violence and anti-social behaviour.

Mounted police and dog handlers will join extra officers on patrol during the operation, which starts on Friday, August 21.

The campaign is being backed by the town's pubs and clubs.

Acting Sergeant Joanne Lightbown of Blackburn Police said the operation had been devised in response to concerns about the safety of people enjoying nights out in town centre pubs, clubs and restaurants.

She said: "The police are eager to reduce late-night violence and anti-social behaviour in an effort to reassure the public that Blackburn is a safe place to visit at the weekend."

She added that they wanted to encourage people who caused trouble in the town centre to change their ways.

"The message we want to get across is that you can have a good night out, but don't spoil things for other people by behaving badly in the town centre.

"If people are arrested for offences of violence we will be looking at bail conditions which will restrict their movement in the town centre."

She said similar operations had worked well in other towns and added: "This initiative will by no means be a one-off.

"It is part of an ongoing effort to make the people of Lancashire feel safe, involved and reassured."

Posters telling the public about Operation Exile are being put up in prominent venues around the town, including pubs, taxi ranks and takeaway food shops.

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