POLICE have said "Thank You" to Halliwell residents and declared a mobile Copshop, in the area for 12 weeks, a huge success.

The district was the first to try out the mobile station and today police said: "We could not have done it without the Halliwell community and local agencies in the area who have been a wonderful source of help and encouragement."

Simon Butterworth, from Greater Manchester Police said: "The people have been fantastic. They have been so supportive, which meant we have been able to gear up the policing in the area to the community's needs.

"We have sent out questionnaires to residents and the feedback has shown that things have improved in the area. People want it to stay that way. They have really taken pride in the area and want to continue the good work."

As well as police officers there are six community support officers attached to the Copshop, who are in contact via police radio.

"The residents have given us some very good, specific information which has helped us. This was partnership working at its best."

Statistics back up the success of the Copshop. There were:

23 arrest.s

Five warrants.

Nine house searches.

61 stop searches.

130 information regarding criminal behaviour received.

30 re-visits to victims of burglary.

13 contacting parents of young people causing annoyance.

"Officers were able to revisit burglary victims and if a door or window needed fixing we would get on to other agencies to get it done as quickly as possible. The figures for contacting parents may seem a little low but we worked very closely with out juvenile response team and problems were dealt with quickly. If we found young people being a nuisance we made sure there were activities they could take part in," Mr Butterworth.

The Copshop staff were also able to initiate or help in 19 community projects with 17 projects solely for Halliwell. They were also involved in: help for victims of crime, giving respite to carers of vulnerable people, setting up football teams, self defence classes for women, seven new HomeWatch schemes, working with young people, arts and crafts projects and a Halliwell Young Persons Activity List.

The Copshop has now moved to Paulhan/Morrison Street in Breightmet.