| PC Cooper, who organised the visit, told me: "I invited Mr Fabricant along for a Saturday night patrol because I wanted to show him the improvements made by Operation Vampire, and how these improvements were achieved." Mr Fabricant said: "With the change in licensing laws which permits all night drinking, I wanted to see the effects for myself that this might have on the residents of Lichfield. The Beacon Street Residents' Association has already expressed concern to me about rowdiness and vandalism in the weekend early hours as revellers make their way home from city centre pubs. The police have introduced some initiatives to help prevent this and I wanted to see how it works - particularly when the new laws take effect." The MP was also keen to examine the new CCTV van and after a quick look round, PC Cooper gave us a demonstration as we climbed into the van and ventured into the city centre. Mr Fabricant, an expert in audio visual technology from his days in the broadcast industry, was impressed with the high-tech equipment and quality of CCTV footage. As people began descending thick and fast into the city centre pubs and bars, we parked the van in Bird Street and began a patrol on foot. Michael enjoyed the opportunity to 'get out and about', taking time to chat to drinkers and other members of the public. However there was also work to be done. PC Cooper and Mr Fabricant spent time talking to pub doormen and licensees about problems caused by late night drinking and how Operation Vampire has managed to reduce the number of violent incidents. We also spoke to a number of restaurateurs and takeaway owners, some of whom have been forced to close shop at earlier times after police believed they were attracting violence. Mr Fabricant said: "My evening showed that police officers not only have to be capable of arresting people in potentially violent situations, but also have to have the skills of a United Nations diplomat. However, I was pleased to see a general, but unfortunately not universal, respect for the police in the centre of Lichfield. The co-operation between the police, the staff who operate the CCTV cameras and the bouncers who man the doors of some of our late night drinking holes is to be admired," he added. Later on, Mr Fabricant and I were introduced to the incoming night patrol officers, and were taken out in the police riot van. He was delighted to sit in the front seat and observe everything first hand. The MP became excited when the riot van was called away from Operation Vampire to a potentially explosive incident at Weston Road, where a number of aggressive women involved in a stand-off had to be calmed by officers before going their separate ways. Mr Fabricant was told to stay in the van while officers attended the incident. "The incident was useful to me because I was there to see policing in Lichfield as a whole, not just Operation Vampire. "It was handled very well by the officers and it was interesting for me to experience the work of policemen and women.” After the disorderly incident was dealt with quickly, we were soon back in the van driving around the city centre before visiting the city centre CCTV control room, where we were given a demonstration of the system. The well-publicised 'night-net' scheme was fascinating, as we watched troublemakers on camera being refused entry to a number of pubs and bars, who had warned each other of the potential problems by using the effective night-net radio system. PC Cooper said: "Lots of people recognised Mr Fabricant and had lots of issues to discuss. "People seemed pleased that he was taking an interest in how things work on a Saturday night in the city centre, although it did slow our progress somewhat because of the regular recognition of such a public figure." Heading back to the station as the night drew to a close, Mr Fabricant was accosted by a hen-party in high spirits, who refused to let the MP leave until he stopped for a chat and posed for pictures, which of course he was happy to do. The evening was a big success and boosted Mr Fabricant's admiration for the work of officers in Lichfield: "The vast majority of people in Lichfield are good natured, law abiding folk, which is fantastic for Lichfield. There are just a few troublemakers but thanks to the very thin blue line of hard working officers in the city, problems are usually avoided," he said. Mr Fabricant hopes to go on the beat again in the future and make the patrol an annual event - to the delight, I'm sure, of his public.
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Ready for action... Mr Fabricant prepared for city centre patrol.
PC Cooper and Mr Fabricant discuss security issues with doormen at Joott, which was plagued with violent incidents until staff began working with police to eradicate the problem.
The MP tries out equipment in the new CCTV van, under the instruction of PC Dean Cooper
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