A POLICE operation to crack down on crime in Chigwell has been hailed "a great success" after three arrests were made.

Operation Infuse saw extra police officers allocated to patrol the Limes Farm estate on foot and by car in an effort to clamp down on anti-social behaviour.

During the last Thursday and Friday's operation two people were arrested for disorderly behaviour and one for drink-driving. Police seized two vehicles and enforced curfews placed on known troublemakers on the estate to ensure they stayed at home.

The initiative saw police issue information about the clampdown to residents on the estate beforehand, giving them two mobile numbers to call if they saw incidents of anti-social behaviour.

Because of calls received police were able to force 12 people to move on after local residents reported that they were causing trouble .

Epping Forest Chief Inspector Jon Hill said: "It was a great success and the reason it was a success is because we involved all the people affected by the conduct down there. The main point of the operation was to involve the local people who know what's causing the issues. To have them on hand to tell us. I'd like to thank everyone who participated in making it a success."

Mr Hill denied that sending out letters had hampered the operation, adding: "I'm quite happy about that. If there are any parents on the estate who know their children are involved in trouble and they keep them in then that's a good thing. Saturday was also quite quiet so it obviously had an impact."

He stressed that the operation would be the first of many.

"Operations like this can provide short-term solutions. In the long-term it's the work of the crime and disorder partnership that will produce solutions in terms of housing, education, and youth work. In the meantime we will repeat these operations."