Police and business people have united to bring law and order to Banbury town centre.

Shoplifters, bag snatchers, and hooligans are among the targets of a new campaign aimed at combating a growing crime wave.

The Banbury Crime Partnership will bring together all businesses in the central area - shops, offices, pubs, and clubs.

Existing crime-fighting schemes Pubwatch and Businesswatch will join the new partnership.

Sgt Paul Whitty said: "As an expanding regional centre, Banbury is attracting shoppers and other visitors in big numbers. But the downside is that villains are also arriving looking for easy pickings in the shops and on the streets.

"We know this because an increasing number of shoplifters and purse thieves are being detained by security staff and police. Often they have come to Banbury on an away day from London or the West Midlands." Sgt Whitty said members of the crime partnership would work with police and town and district councils to tackle crime and disorder.

New technology will be used, including updated radio communications and pagers and the new thumbprint scheme aimed at stopping credit card fraud.

Sgt Whitty said: "Another target will be the handful of hooligans who sometimes bring disorder to the town centre. Visitors during the day and evening do not want to be confronted by drunken louts."

Chairman of the crime partnership is Hedley Marsh, manager of Debenhams in Banbury.

All businesses are invited to Debenhams on Tuesday, September 11, between 4pm and 7pm, to meet crime prevention experts from Thames Valley Police and the Home Office.