POLICE officers patrolled Basingstoke town centre during half-term as part of an operation designed to tackle youth related crime, antisocial behaviour (ASB) and disorder.

Working in partnership with Festival Place, The Malls Shopping Centre and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, officers from Basingstoke Town Neighbourhood Policing Team were out and about in the town during the school holidays last week as part of Op Whiteheart.

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Posting on their social media page Basingstoke Cops, officers encouraged people to stop and have a chat, and said: “The operation is designed to tackle youth related crime, ASB and disorder within the town centre in conjunction with our partners.”

They added: “We would like the local community and visitors to feel safe when coming to the town centre.”