PRIME Minister Tony Blair has been told about the early success of the winter crime crackdown, Operation Ratcatcher.

York MP Hugh Bayley praised the initiative during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons.

Mr Bayley told the PM that the campaign - a joint initiative between the Evening Press, North Yorkshire Police, Safer York Partnership and Crimestoppers - had been "extremely successful".

Operation Ratcatcher is an initiative designed to draw vital information from the public about criminals operating in York, and for the police to act on these tip-offs. It uses the dedicated Crimestoppers number - 0800 555111 - as a one-stop hotline, so callers can remain anonymous.

Mr Bayley's comments came as the Evening Press revealed callers had flooded Crimestoppers with an unprecedented number of calls since the initiative was launched 28 days ago.

The service received 40 calls - ten times more than would normally be expected.

Some of the information was used as the basis for a string of raids which saw 12 people arrested, on suspicion of offences including possession and supplying drugs, handling stolen goods and street robbery.

Drugs and thousands of pounds worth of suspected stolen goods were recovered.

More than 30 further suspects are now under investigation as a result of tip-offs.

In front of a television audience of millions, Mr Bayley said: "May I draw the Prime Minister's attention to the success of a crime-fighting partnership in York called Operation Ratcatcher.

"It has been extremely successful in increasing the number of arrests for drug offences and street crime such as robberies."

Mr Bayley is seeking a guarantee that York will receive cash under the new National Policing Plan to continue the fight against drug dealing and antisocial behaviour.

Operation Ratcatcher started taking shape after Chief Inspector Kevin Doyle, who commands the north and east of York, called on the Evening Press to help promote an initiative to combat winter crime.

To push the campaign, the Evening Press produced thousands of eye-catching posters and leaflets, paid for by Safer York Partnership and the police. These have been put on display across the city.

Updated: 11:54 Thursday, November 21, 2002