OPERATION Ratcatcher's traps are set to snap shut on criminals across York as the city's police gear up to act on tip-offs phoned in by residents.

A steady flow of information has been received by Crimestoppers, which the four-month winter crime crackdown is using as its anonymous tip-off hotline.

Over the two weeks since the campaign launched, this information has been relayed immediately to the Central Area Crime Intelligence Unit, based at York police station.

From there it is being thoroughly checked before it can be used to form the basis for action.

Detective Inspector Phil Roberts, who heads the unit, said: "We have to look closely at verifying or corroborating what is being said. It might well be that we have some pieces of the jigsaw on our system and we have just been waiting for this last piece.

"We then begin to paint a picture of the people that are the subjects of the information."

At this stage, one of the unit's field intelligence officers - a police officer operating in plain clothes - may be required to go out and check various details first hand, such as addresses, vehicles and people's habits.

DI Roberts said: "There is then a decision as to what action we should take. This may be the execution of a search warrant in the hope of recovering drugs or stolen property. It may be that we watch premises for a few days or set up a camera to do that."

Any surveillance work has to be justified and sanctioned by senior officers and, in most cases, relies on members of the public allowing their homes or businesses to be used by police.

Protecting the sources of information, and those who help the police in practical ways, is "the most important aspect of intelligence work".

DI Roberts said: "Out of the information we have received through Ratcatcher, three quarters is on people we know about. We haven't had sufficient in the past to do anything, but this new information, I'm quite confident, will tip the balance and I am at this time planning positive action.

"Our objective is to rid the city of York of criminal and drug activity. Individuals involved in those activities now have a choice. They can either pack up and join with the community, or continue and face the inevitable."

Operation Ratcatcher, a joint initiative by the Evening Press, North Yorkshire Police, Safer York Partnership and Crimestoppers, aims to turn the tables on the criminals who prey on our communities.

The campaign uses the dedicated Crimestoppers number - 0800 555 111 - as the route for people to tip off their local police about any criminals operating in their areas.

DI Roberts said: "The intelligence unit is what drives police activity. We need to have eyes and ears in the community, which people should get involved with Operation Ratcatcher."

Updated: 11:23 Tuesday, November 05, 2002