ROBBERIES in Oxford have dropped by a third compared to the same period last year, police said last night.
The three-month Operation Buzzard was launched in June to crack down on the number of people being robbed in the city, particularly in Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys.
Foreign students are often preyed on during the summer months, regarded as easy targets likely to be carrying cash and valuables, such as mobile phones and cameras.
In Blackbird Leys, officers have seen a 40 per cent drop in attacks, while the city as a whole saw a 35 per cent decrease.
The Leys saw 27 robberies in 2009 compared to 16 this year. The city recorded 37 robberies – down from 57.
Det Sgt Suzette Allcorn said: “This is a fantastic result and shows what can be achieved by working with the language schools and the local authorities.”
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