Five hundred police officers Friday morning marched through the principal streets of Koforidua in the Eastern Region to give a strong indication of their readiness to fight crime in the region, particularly during the Christmas season.

The officers say they are not intimidated by criminals and their activities, and urged the residents to volunteer information on the activities of those criminals as that is critical to fighting crime.

"I urge the public to give us information so we respond to crime in real time," the Regional Commander, DCOP Yaagy Akuribah said at the regional launch of the 'Operation Father Christmas'; a nationwide exercise that seeks to search and arrest criminals as well as all those who are in possession of firecrackers and other banned explosives.

He said the Police remain resolute in fighting crime, especially in the Eastern Region, indicating "for us to be successful, we need collaboration, cooperation, coordination and effective communication".

The Command on Thursday morning embarked on the first of a series of swoops to rid the municipality and its surrounding communities of criminals. A total of 15 suspected criminals were arrested in the first exercise and quantities of drugs and weapons seized.