THE number of people being arrested and prosecuted for buying stolen goods has rocketed since the introduction of a new police initiative.

We Don't Buy Crime - which targets counterfeit trading - started in April and was only publicly launched in May.

But in its first two months, 15 people were arrested and prosecuted in the Kidderminster division for buying stolen goods, compared with just two for the same period last year.

"This is good news, especially since it's difficult to prove the offence of handling stolen goods," said Det Chief Insp Mark Williams, the officer leading the programme.