THE public are being urged to do their bit to help fight crime as a major two-month police initiative reaches its climax.

Operation Impact is aimed at giving criminals nowhere to hide and involves the North Yorkshire force together with their colleagues from neighbouring Yorkshire forces.

Nearly 2,000 arrests have already been made through the Home Office-funded initiative for a range of different offences - including violent crime, domestic abuse, vehicle crime and quality of life issues.

It comes to an end on September 30 and the theme for the final week is catching prolific offenders.

And the public are being asked to help by reporting anyone who may be participating in illegal activity, particularly those who are offenders already known to the police that have returned to criminality.

They also want to know about anyone putting children and young people at risk by exposing them to crime.

The police appeal is aimed at catching prolific offenders as well as preventing and deterring those who may be at risk of becoming a prolific offender in the future.

Chief Superintendent Colin Taylor said persistent offenders posed the greatest threat to the safety and confidence of the community.

"Out of all active offenders in the UK, it is estimated that just 10 per cent are responsible for half of all crime committed and it is these we are particularly targeting," he said.

"Operation Impact aims to leave a sustainable legacy of crime reduction.

"To ensure we achieve that, we want to catch and convict those who persist in causing crime in our communities as well as preventing and deterring young people who are at risk of becoming involved in criminality in the future."

Last week's theme was asset seizures and activity including targeted operations to tackle high-value metal thefts, warrants executed on suspected drug dealers, an operation to catch plant and caravan thieves and investigations into scrap dealerships.

Anyone who can assist the operation is asked to contact North Yorkshire police on 0845 6060 247 -or to report suspicious activity completely anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.