Police in Ely will be stepping up their patrols in the city in the run up to Christmas in a bid to clamp down on shoplifters and pickpockets.

Officers said the festive season normally brought with it a spike in shoplifting and that extra police would be deployed in order to get to grips with it.

Sergeant Will Davis said: “Officers will be deployed on foot in Ely on the run up to Christmas to deter ‘would be thieves’.

“We see a spike in shoplifting offences in Ely at this time of year. The patrols were welcomed last year by shoppers and retailers alike.

“The officers will be carrying ‘Shopwatch’ radios, which will connect them to the shops and the CCTV operators to assist in the apprehension of anybody out to commit crime.”