Extra police officers are to patrol Chelmsford all over the summer weekends, in an operation to cut down public order offences.

Operation Barros has been running for the past three weeks and Sgt Chris White said people can expect to see it continue all through the summer.

"We ran the operation last year. During the summer months people start coming out more and drinking more, which is when the trouble can start. Every Friday and Saturday night during spring and summer, there will be an extra sergeant and four officers on patrol, and they will also join up with special constables when possible," he said.

Sgt White added: "We will be concentrating on people coming out of nightclubs, but it is also to do with things such as drinking in the town centre and urinating in the street. We want people to come into the town in the evening and enjoy themselves and keep the good reputation Chelmsford has."

He said the division had given money to help resource the operation, and that officers would not just be patrolling the town centre.

Published Tuesday, May 20, 2003

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