A SEASONAL blitz on burglars has been launched in the run-up to Christmas, to curb the growing number of break-ins across a police force area.

The month-long campaign by Durham Police will involve all 1,100 front-line officers, including the traffic unit and specialist teams of detectives, under the umbrella of Operation Bullseye.

It will principally target burglars who use the cover of darkness during the longer winter nights to mask their activities.

But the purge is also aimed at stemming late-night violence, drug-related offending, criminal damage and festive drink-drivers.

Force chiefs hope to stem the growing burglary rate, which reached an all-time low in Durham in the 12 months between April 2000 to the end of March this year, with 3,201 recorded offences.

Since then, however, the burglary rate has started to rise again, with 2,254 break-ins during the following seven months, compared to 1,706 over the same period of 2000.

Previous Bullseye operations, over the past two years, have helped to hit the target, with more than 400 suspects arrested and questioned, while tens of thousands of pounds worth of property has been recovered.

Each of the six territorial divisions within the force area is tailoring the operation to meet specific local needs, to focus on crime hot-spots and address community concerns.

Assistant chief constable Ron Hogg said: "We want the criminal fraternity to know we are collectively determined to make life truly miserable for known thieves and burglars, who might be more active than usual at this time of year.

"We hope publicity generated by Bullseye, allied to our high-profile patrols, will put members of the public on their guard.

"There are many things people can do to protect themselves and make life difficult for criminals, rather than themselves." Mr Hogg said that the police and public need to be extra vigilant.

He added that, despite the rise in burglaries, more arrests have been made in the past seven months.

Each of the six divisions within the force will have its own priorities, including high-visibility patrols to offer some protection to vulnerable rural post offices in Derwentside.