POLICE are launching Oxford’s biggest operation to protect foreign students from being robbed.

On Monday, officers from Blackbird Leys neighbourhood team unveiled their plan at the Kassam Stadium to crack down on the attacks that peak across Oxford every summer.

The city attracts about 5,000 foreign students over the summer months – but they are seen as easy targets by muggers.

In July last year, there were nine robberies and eight in August the previous year.

Normally police only record a couple of robberies a months.

Insp Andy Storey, in charge of policing in the south east area of the city, issued a warning to muggers and said he knew who they were.

Warning letters have been posted to about 10 well-known troublemakers.

He said: “This is a bigger and better operation than it’s been before. It’s safe to say we know who the individuals are who will be committing these types of offences.

“If you are thinking about committing these type of offences then think again.”

Neighbourhood Sergeant Rob Axe added: “If you do, we will do everything we can to put you before the court.”

Police launched Operation Buzzard in August last year, with numbers of robberies plummeting to two, but this year they aim to stamp out the problem altogether.

They have launched the crackdown six weeks earlier and will deploy more resources than before.

Officers and Oxford City Council’s street wardens will increase patrols throughout June, July and August.

Police horses and a mobile police station will also be used.

Bluetooth messages with crime reduction tips will be sent out to people on the estate and postcards will also be handed out to students showing a map of Blackbird Leys and its bus stops.

Sgt Axe, who will be posting updates on the operation on Twitter and Facebook, said: “It’s a historical problem when the foreign students come here, traditionally they have all got their iPods and cash and they are seen as targets.

“We were very pleased last year, the target was to reduce robberies against foreign students and we got that result and it was certainly worthwhile. Hopefully this year the figures will go down again.”

He added the force was working closely with English First language schools, which are providing multilingual teachers to come out on patrol with them.

He added: “They can use different languages which will be important initially so we can understand what’s happening.”