Twenty-one arrests have been made this month as part of a crackdown on prolific criminals in north-east Suffolk.

Twenty-one arrests have been made this month as part of a crackdown on prolific criminals in north-east Suffolk.

And police are monitoring 41 of the area's most persistent offenders, responsible for crimes from burglaries to firearms and drugs offences.

But they have refused to “name and shame” them, citing data protection legislation and a need to work with the criminals.

Since the beginning of the month 21 arrests have been made in the eastern area, although some people have been arrested more than once, meaning that approximately 11 people have been arrested in all.

There are 54 people on the scheme, which covers the Waveney and Suffolk coastal districts. Thirteen are serving prison sentences. Since the scheme began at the beginning of 2005, 20 people have been taken off the scheme after mending their ways.

Frequent offenders are put forward for the scheme and a points system is used to see whether they qualify, based on previous history, intelligence about their activities and personal issues such as drug and alcohol addiction.

In conjunction with councils, housing associations, the youth offending team and the probation service, offenders are offered help with getting housing and treatment for their addiction. If they reject help and turn back to crime, they are monitored by police, and if they commit a crime are given a “premium service” to bring them to justice more quickly.