A YORKSHIRE-WIDE anti-crime blitz is homing in on Kirklees this week.

Police in the division are to target crime hotspots as part of Operation Maximum Impact, which is running across Yorkshire and Humberside throughout February.

The focus switches to violent crime next weekend, with extra Neighbourhood Policing Team patrols targeting drunkenness and anti-social behaviour in Huddersfield town centre.

Neighbourhood Policing Team officers will be speaking to revellers on the streets.

A van with a large video display screen will be in St George’s Square, providing advice and crime prevention messages.

Huddersfield Neighbourhood Policing Team’s Insp Dave Glover said: “We will be working with the taxi marshals and street angels, as well as other agencies.

“The whole purpose is to make Huddersfield town centre a safer place to be. Our aim is to engage with a cross-section of the community, implementing preventative measures.

“Early intervention is the key and we will be increasing the number of notices to people which order them to leave the town centre if they look like they have already had too much to drink.

“Officers in the town centre will also be clamping down severely on anyone showing anti-social or violent behaviour.’’

Cleckheaton and Birkenshaw will also come under particular focus, with officers targeting ‘Hanoi burglaries’ by giving crime prevention advice to potential victims.

‘Hanois’ are when thieves sneak or break into homes to steal keys to cars outside. This kind of crime has grown since car anti-theft devices became too hard for thieves to bypass.

The keys are often left in view, near doors with letter-boxes or cat flaps, so the thieves can reach and grab them.

Insp Ian Gayles, of Dewsbury Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We will be speaking to residents and providing leaflets offering crime prevention tips.

“Always lock your doors and windows and don’t leave keys in your door.

“Do not leave keys on view, on hooks near your doors and hide them away from view. If necessary, use a wheel clamp on your vehicle.

“These offences most commonly occur while the car owners are at home. The thief can see the vehicle outside and can assume that the keys are in the house. Don’t think for a second your presence is enough to put the thieves off; it simply confirms that the keys are likely to be in the property.

“Stay vigilant and report any suspicious circumstances where people are paying particular attention to houses and cars in driveways.’’