By Emily Bridgewater

A POLICE initiative to crackdown on drink-related crime over the festive season has been hailed a success.

According to figures published yesterday, Operation Christmas Presence resulted in a 22 per cent drop in antisocial behaviour across North Worcestershire.

The scheme saw extra officers deployed onto streets of Redditch in an effort to clamp down on drink driving, drink spiking and drink-related violence.

Officers also made nightly visits to all the pubs, clubs and off-licences in the town and worked closely with fast food outlets.

Insp Tony Love, of Redditch police, said: "This was the second year for Operation Christmas Presence and we are pleased to report that once more it was very successful.

"Our aim was to make sure everyone out enjoying themselves could do so safely and we committed a great many resources to ensuring this could happen.

"The feedback we've had suggests people were reassured by our high-profile patrols and the other measures we put in place."

He praised the co-operation the police had received from Redditch Council, the fire services and the Security Industry Authority.

Insp Love said: "We'd also like to commend our officers who worked extended hours over the festive period to support this initiative at a time when they'd much rather have been at home with their families.

"Overall, we are very encouraged by the results of Operation Christmas Presence in North Worcestershire and we'll be planning to build on the success of the initiative this coming December.

''By doing so, we can offer an increasing level of reassurance to people so they can enjoy and remember their night out for all the right reasons."