A HIGH profile police presence over Christmas has led to a reduction in offences in a crime-hit community.

Operation Christmas Parcel, in the West End of Newcastle, saw officers make their presence felt around businesses and cash points during the festive period.

Officers focused on post offices, banks, off licences, cash machines and other 24-hour businesses that are often targeted by thieves in the run-up to Christmas.

They also gave shop staff crime prevention advice.

During the operation, there was only one reported crime at a business premises, an attempted theft from a cash machine customer.

Crime has also fallen in other areas, including burglary. House break-ins last month were down by 44.6 per cent on the same period in 2001 and other burglaries fell by 52.1 per cent.