A CRIME crackdown in the centre of Newport has netted nearly 650 arrests in 12 months. Only five officers are behind the arrests in 2002, which include 432 for theft and resulted in 590 crimes being solved.

The officers also recovered £26,758 worth of stolen property and returned it to the retailers.

The city centre team was set up on the back of a special operation targeting shoplifting in the city centre over Christmas 2001.

Chief Superintendent Kevin Price, of Newport police, said: "The team was set up to respond to the concerns of the Newport traders and concerns raised by Newport Transport regarding anti-social behaviour and offences such as shoplifting.

"The decision to increase the officers was a joint initiative to complement the city wardens and ensure that the city centre remains an attractive place to visit and shop.

"Our stance has been one of enforcement backed with advice and guidance, and the results of these officers show that this strategy was both needed and successful."

PC Martin Crockett, of the city centre team, added: "We are an active deterrent to thieves operating in the city centre, and in doing so we have recovered a substantial amount of property, in excess of £26,000, which goes to indicate the problem the retailers face. "We are in the town all day every day, whether in plain clothes or uniform, and when we are not answering a particular call we are talking to people."

John Cabbon, chairman of Newport Chamber of Trade, said he is 100 per cent behind the initiative.

He added: "With any shop, shoplifting is one of their biggest headaches. "I am all for the initiative. Anybody who causes a problem in the retail industry causes a problem not just for me and you, but for everybody."