Lancashire crime: Wyre Police’s Operation Night Guardian protects revellers in Poulton

Officers from Wyre Neighbourhood and Response Police have taken to the streets of Poulton to help protect night time revellers. Watch more of our videos on Shots! and live on Freeview channel 276

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Called Operation Night Guardian and funded by the Home Office's GRIP innovation fund, the initiative involves both uniformed and specially trained plain-clothed patrols in busy town centres. It aims to protect people by identifying those who may be displaying signs of concerning behaviour.

The operation also offers a range of practical measures used to help prevent and detect spiking offences with drink toppers and spiking test kits available in some licenced premises, which officers hope will further help to deter offences and raise the risk of offenders being caught.

Operation Night Guardian in Poulton proved a success.

A search dog was used throughout the Saturday evening operation to identify those carrying drugs within licensed premises, along with specialist licensing departments who were also in attendance to ensure compliance and the search dog helped officers make multiple arrests.