Specialist police to protect shoppers over new year

Specialist police officers have been deployed to protect shops and customers over the Christmas period.

Thames Valley Police said Project Servator officers were trained to spot "tell-tale" signs of crimes such as theft and shoplifting.

Both uniformed and plain-clothes officers have been deployed in Oxford.

It was revealed in April that shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales rose to their highest level in 20 years.

Thames Valley Police said Project Servator was a tactic used to disrupt a "range of criminal activity" and to identify those preparing to commit criminal acts, including acts of terrorism.

Deployments involve uniformed officers, dogs and horses, as well as less visible measures such as plain-clothed police officers, drones and CCTV.

The force added that a man was arrested on Monday in Oxford city centre for numerous theft offences and had been taken into custody.

Meanwhile, teams of street pastors from local churches have been out in towns across Oxfordshire to help people during nights out.

Their work involves speaking to people who may be distressed or helping revellers get home at the end of the evening.

Jackie Wilderspin, a street pastor in Oxford, said: "One of our main concerns is to make sure women are safe on the streets.

"But we're there for anybody who needs us."

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