POLICE in North Flintshire are to run an operation to help protect residents over 65 following a slight increase in crime.

Earlier this year, officers carried out Operation Blue Lolite, an initiative designed to identify and protect vulnerable residents and homes in the North Flintshire area.

Sgt Matt Subacchi told the Leader following analysis of the area's crime stats, the operation is to be rerun with an emphasis on protecting older residents.

He said: "Since December we've gone a lot of work with youths on preventing knife crime, hate crime and anti-social behaviour and those stats are all in reduction.

"We've also seen a reduction in the number of offences where victims are aged 24 or below.

"But when we look at offences where victims are 65 or over, there's a slight increase.

"It's not dramatic, but it is something we don't want.

"It is predominantly where people are aged 65 or over and living alone and it concerns anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and property offences.

"Operation Blue Lolite identified 40 properties which were vulnerable to crime and it was a great success - we're going to rerun that with an initiative called 'Think Jessica' as our focus."

Think Jessica is a registered charity supported by countless agencies, organisations and police forces nationwide, which joined forces to make people aware of the danger and financial implications of scams which target people in their own homes.

Sgt Subacchi said his team will be carrying out an impact day in August to visit homes, offer advice and make referrals to a number of partner agencies in order to ensure residents are aware or crime prevention advice and have necessary preventative measures in place.

He continued: "We have invited community councils to let us know of people over 65 who they think may be vulnerable to these types of offences and we invite members of the public to get in touch and let us or your local councillor know.

"We're not saying your age defines your vulnerability - but the data shows us that there is an increase in the form of these property crimes (doorstep crime, criminal damage and a variety of things) and that gives us a direction to go. "It's all about prevention."

To find out more about Think Jessica, which has a wide range of crime prevention and scam awareness advice, visit: https://www.thinkjessica.com/