Teacakes the toast of police blitz

The name conjures up images of the Women's Institute rather than a big crackdown on crime, but Operation Teacakes is the latest police initiative to catch burglars who are blighting businesses.

It will see officers use the latest in crime-fighting technology to monitor petrol station forecourt thefts, target scrap dealers in a bid to cut down on metal crime, and team up with businesses to improve communication.

Whether the name of the blitz is picked at random or somehow linked to the project, the past few years have thrown up a number of bizarrely titled operations which have set people wondering about their origins.

In May 2005 there was Operation Cats Eyes, a crackdown on speeding motorists who had plagued the Staffordshire villages of Gnosall, Eccleshall, Horton and Creswell.

Operations Tinkerbell and Purse-Charm were set up to stamp out pick pocketing over Christmas.

And Operation Mermaid was launched in March this year as a targeted campaign to ensure HGVs are roadworthy and legal.

Less friendly sounding are gang-related Operation Nemesis, and Killswitch, which was a round up of violent football hooligans.

Police have revealed that the code names can be assigned in two ways, randomly by a computer or specifically chosen for their public relations appeal.

Acting Inspector Karen Greasley, from West Bromwich police, said: "We have an internal system that automatically activates the name.

"There are lots of different names in the database and usually they are picked at random."

Other names have included Operation Good Knight, launched in Wolverhampton to tackle violent and drunk criminals in the city centre and Operation Ghost which tackled anti-social behaviour in Kidderminster.

While in Walsall Operation Scarf aimed to stamp out house burglaries.