Police send Christmas cards to criminals

A POLICE force has been branded “ludicrous” for sending criminals Christmas cards advising them not to commit crimes.

Cheshire Police posted hundreds of cards to some of their worst serial offenders, with a picture of a police custody suite on the cover. It warns that a cell is the only “hospitality” on offer for anyone arrested over Christmas.

A message reads: “Crime will not be tolerated during the festive season.”

The cards are part of the North West force’s “Operation Jingles” crime reduction campaign.

David Mellor, a former Home Office minister, told The Daily Telegraph: “What they seem to be saying is, ‘If you are thinking of committing a crime, don’t do until after Christmas’”.

He added: “I think many years of being involved in one way or another, as a lawyer, as a politician and as a minister, in law and order this is as ludicrous as a thing as I have ever read”.

Mark Roberts, Chief Constable of Cheshire Police, said: “Spending Christmas with us is not recommended – if you are considering committing a crime, think again.”

He added: “We want to catch those who are responsible for crime, minimise disruption across the county and keep people feeling safe and reassured over the festive period.

“This card has been designed in order to remind some of our more serial offenders that crime will not be tolerated, and if you do commit crime then we will target you.

“A custody suite is definitely not the best place to spend your time.”

John Dwyer, the Conservative Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner, added: “There’s a serious message behind ‘Operation Jingles’ – if you’re going to try and ruin someone else’s Christmas in Cheshire through crime, you will only end up ruining your own.”