Aggressive beggars are being targeted in a high-profile crackdown by Colchester police.

Officers from the newly-formed town community unit are blitzing problems caused by people living on the streets for the next two weeks.

But they stress they are offering help and support as well as using a "pro-active deterrent approach".

Sgt Kevin Jacobs, of Colchester police, said on Friday: "When we find a homeless person begging on the street we will try to put them in contact with agencies who can help, like clothing banks, Mind, and shelters."

As well as talking to street beggars the town's beat police are handing out cards which list services available to the homeless.

"The aim is to move them away from begging towards something more constructive like selling the Big Issue where they get a regular income," Sgt Jacobs said.

He said if people approached continued to cause complaints they will be dealt with as offenders.

Sgt Jacobs said they were guided by feedback from the public who repeatedly complain, stressed that not all homeless people are beggars and some do use begged money for food and shelter.

"But I have noticed a more aggressive nature of the beggars now and the increase in drug and alcohol addiction which is quite worrying," Sgt Jacobs said.

Although the blitz lasts for two weeks the new town policing team - created to replace the old shift pattern - would continue to address the problem of aggressive beggars. Undercover park operation LAST week the town's policing team mounted an undercover operation at Castle Park after reports of indecent exposures.

Plain-clothes officers using surveillance equipment staked out various locations at the park over a five days.

Operation Ryman was designed to snare people committing obscene acts after a number of reports of exposure and indecent assault.

Sgt Adrian Coombs said: "It was a great success. The initiative showed that under our new system we can respond much more quickly to problems."

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