MORECAMBE'S top cop has pledged to be tough on crime'.

The resort's new inspector is Richard Debicki, who has stepped into Insp Ken Clayson's shoes with a vow to relentlessly target criminals to make this a safer place to live and work'.

As part of that Insp Debicki, pictured right, says the force is about to launch a new crime-busting operation, focusing on house burglaries and car crime, while he wants to substantially increase' the number of community beat officers over the next 12 to 18 months.

"Anyone committing a crime in the area can expect a call from us," he said. "If they create misery in people's lives by committing crime then we will arrest them, put them before the courts and, where appropriate, they will go to prison."

The 31-year-old from Garstang joined the force a decade ago as a beat officer in Blackpool before working in Blackburn, at Lancashire Police HQ in Hutton, then in the Poulton, Thornton and Cleveleys area as an inspector.

The biology graduate who has received the prestigious Excellence in British Policing award from Tony Blair also wants to work with local people to address any issues, like nuisance behaviour and youth disorder.

And he is planning to talk to local community groups to hear their views on such concerns as well as on local policing.

April 10, 2003 08:30