Bolgatanga (Upper East) - The Upper East Regional Police Command said on Monday that it was adopting tough measures to combat the growing incidence of crime in the Region.

This followed a spate of break-ins and burgling of houses in the residential areas as well as some salons in Bolgatanga in recent times. A statement by the Command signed by the Public Relations Officer, Inspector Thomas Agbanyo cited the stepping up of day and night patrols as well as the deployment of more Policemen to beef up the existing Police Task Force in the Region as some of the measures being adopted.

The statement said there would be more Police presence on the roads and in the villages and appealed to the public to co-operate with the Police and give them information.

It cautioned the public against the habit of family members or elders approaching the Police to beg for the release of persons arrested for criminal offences.

''Anyone found begging or soliciting for the release of suspects would be dealt with according to the law,'' the statement said.