AN assault on three police officers has resulted in a local inspector declaring that he is going to throw extra ammunition into the fight to tackle the persistent problems on the Heatherlands Estate.

On Saturday at around 9-45 pm, three police officers were attempting to arrest two youths suspected of breaking a shop window. Officers were attacked by the youths and several of their friends, who were attempting to prevent any arrests.

One female police officer was punched in the face while the two male officers were punched and kicked in the head, chest, legs and wrist, leaving all three officers with minor injuries.

Police later arrested two people in connection with the incident. They were released on police bail pending further enquiries. Officers anticipate further arrests will follow.

Whitehill Inspector Gerry Thorne has responded to the incident by promising that policing on the Headley Down estate will be stepped up.

The news comes only a week after The Herald reported that plans for new play equipment on the estate may have to be shelved because of persistent vandalism which is making life difficult for the majority of the estate's law-abiding residents.

Recent incidents include yobs setting off fireworks outside Woodlands Hall, vandalism, intimidation of children and youth workers and setting wheelie bins alight.

Insp Thorne warned the culprits that life is going to be made difficult for them as police patrols are stepped up.

"It is a fight that they can't win."If they are going to start assaulting my officers then we are going be present on the estate in greater numbers.

"The vast majority of the people who live on the estate are no trouble at all but there are a small number of people who are making the lives of everybody else a misery."

In the past, Insp Thorne has been successful in securing government money to fund overtime for a police crackdown on the estate.

High-visibility policing over the school holidays has been successful in significantly reducing the crime rates in Headley Down.

"This time I am not going to wait for the school holidays, so people had better beware," he warned.

The possibility of taking out Anti-Social Behaviour Orders on people involved in crime on the estate is also being examined.