A police operation targeting shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and drugs has been carried out in Bodmin.

The police neighbourhood team conducted high-visibility foot patrols in the town while working closely with plain clothes officers from the Protect and Disrupt team.

Traffic and armed response vehicles assisted with vehicle checks and a Cornwall Council anti-

social behaviour case worker also attended to conduct patrols.

Welfare checks on a number of vulnerable people living in the community were conducted and community intelligence was gathered.

The police visited shops as well as licensed premises to provide advice and support.

The officers said they received great feedback from shoppers within the town.

Sergeant Andy Honeywill, who led the operation, said: “There were no arrests, however, one male was stop-searched under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The search was negative.

“One male was spoken to by officers and given advice regarding begging.

“Traffic and armed response units attended the Bodmin area and carried out ANPR checks on vehicles which detect any vehicles without insurance, tax etc.

“Officers were highly visible in the town on foot patrol and engaged with shopkeepers and members of the public. We obtained some excellent community intelligence regarding drugs in the town. A team of plain clothes officers also worked in the town to provide a covert presence to help detect any ongoing criminal activity.

“Officers visited a number of vulnerable members of the community to ensure they were safe.

“Officers were approached by shoppers in the town and were given excellent feedback and thanked for being highly visible in the community.”

Inspector Regie Butler- Card said: “Bodmin and Wadebridge remain safe and wonderful towns to live and work. However, there are individuals who choose to prey on the vulnerable and to try to drag our towns to their level.

“Your local police team will continue to work in partnership with our communities to stop this. We will identify those individuals who make the lives of other people a misery and adopt a criminal lifestyle and we will make their lives a misery until they change their ways.”