EXCLUSIVE by Paul Britton: POLICE officers are using get-tough "stop and search" powers to question street crime suspects from this afternoon.

Thieves and robbers are being targeted under the biggest ever operation to cover the whole of Bolton. Police chiefs say they were deploying every single available officer and high visibility patrols were being increased.

The police operation was mounted to combat an increase in robberies on the streets.

As part of the crackdown, which began at midday, police officers were granted the use of hard-hitting Section 60 powers to stop and search any potential offenders. Under the order, anyone may be lawfully questioned if police suspect doing so would prevent a violent crime being committed. The powers also apply to people in vehicles.

Today, revealing the operation, Supt Simon Barraclough, of Bolton Police, warned street criminals to beware.

He said: "Watch out. We are coming for you. There will be no hiding place. It will be one of the largest ever operations to target street violence across all parts of Bolton."

Section 60 stop and search powers can be granted under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

They remove the necessity to stop and search people only if officers believe there are reasonable grounds to do so -- and can only last for 24 hours.

Bolton's operation is part of Operation Hawk, a force-wide operation launched in 2000 to meet Government target rates.

Latest Home Office figures reveal robberies in Bolton increased by 47 per cent last year, from 418 to 710. Violent attacks increased by 500.

Under Operation Hawk, more than 1,000 people have been charged with street crime offences this year across Greater Manchester.

Supt Barraclough said: "I am expecting officers to attend reports of street robbery very quickly.

"Then our goal will be to get offenders remanded into custody so they will be no longer a danger to the public. We will be hitting them very hard indeed.

"The reason why I am introducing these powers is to prevent all aspects of violent street crime. It provides a blanket authority to stop and search for the next 24 hours.

"To prevent street crime, officers will have the authority to search any individual, if they believe that searching the individual may prevent violent street crime."

The operation in Bolton is to continue throughout September and beyond, and the stop and search powers will be re-introduced. Other Greater Manchester forces are due to launch fresh measures to target street crime from today, with more than 100 extra officers on patrol.

Cllr Frank White, Bolton's representative on the Police Authority and the Bolton Council's spokesman on social inclusion and community safety, welcomed the move.

But he added: "The police need to be aware of the history attached to stop and search when they start using those powers on the streets of Bolton.

"They need to be sure that people from minority communities do not believe they are being stopped on the basis of ethnicity."

Bolton South East MP Brian Iddon also welcomed the move.

He added: "I'm happy to see these powers used for a short period of time, as long as they are used carefully.

"It all depends on how the police use them."

Both uniformed police and plain clothes detectives will be used. Senior officers will also take to the streets.

They will consider using Section 60 orders in coming weeks.

Det Chief Insp John Piekos, of Bolton Police, added: "Street violence is the thing that people fear the most.

"We will be using these powers to protect them. It is a tool we can use to help prevent street violence in all its shapes and forms."