POLICE officers in southern Oxfordshire were out this weekend delivering a Christmas message to known criminals.

Officers visited regular offenders on Friday and Saturday to deliver Christmas cards warning them not to cause trouble over the festive period.

Extra patrols went out in Abingdon, Wantage, Didcot and Thame to knock on people’s doors.

Officers also provided vulnerable elderly people with Christmas hampers.

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Supt Andy Boyd, the area commander for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse, said the visits may have led to a relatively quiet Friday night.

He said: “We have been talking to offenders responsible for various crimes including burglary, theft from motor vehicles, and anti-social behaviour.

“We are delivering Christmas cards to remind criminals that just because it is Christmas we won't be taking our eye off the ball.

“What we don’t want is criminals ruining Christmases.

“We have extra patrols out in all our main towns to tell people that we have a zero tolerance against anti-social behaviour.

“We want families to feel reassured that if they go out to a pub or a restaurant then their presents will still be under the tree when they get home.

“The cells were almost empty on Friday – perhaps it was a coincidence but it could have been the result of our visits.”

Supt Boyd has been running his Christmas crackdowns for several years.

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