PLAIN clothes police have begun patrols to thwart pickpockets in a new operation to help Christmas shoppers and retailers.

The Kirklees Town Centre Partnership has warned thieves that undercover officers are now patrolling in Huddersfield and Dewsbury.

The officers will be conducting patrols on main shopping streets at busy times as part of a package of crime prevention and safety measures to take place in December.

This will include extra patrols at key times, and work in the night-time economy including licensing visits.

Sergeant Amanda Holroyd, of the Kirklees Town Centre Partnership, said: “We work closely with our retail partners in Huddersfield and Dewsbury and want to do all we can to help them and shoppers through the festive season.

“I want to make it clear to prospective shoplifters and purse dippers that it is not worth the risk of committing offences here in Huddersfield town centre. 

Kirklees Council Cabinet Member for Learning, Aspiration and Communities, Cllr Carole Pattison, said: “I’m really pleased that the police are stepping up their activity in our town centres over the next few weeks.

"The police patrols sit alongside all the other work that is going on in town centres this Christmas."