Police from Blackpool meet Faliraki officers

Two British police officers met with Greek authorities on the holiday island of Rhodes yesterday to discuss ways of dealing with yobs at the notorious resort of Faliraki.

Superintendent Andy Rhodes and Inspector John Donnelly, who are based in Blackpool, arrived on the Greek island late on Friday and were greeted by Captain Themis Kalamtas, Faliraki's chief of police, before walking round Bar Street.

The officers have been called in to liaise with police after an initiative to tackle drunken behaviour in Blackpool, Operation Nightsafe, was successfully launched earlier this year.

A spokeswoman for Lancashire police said: "We have met with Rhodes police officers and the mayor of Faliraki and discussed the issues we both face. It's proved a real success."

Earlier Supt Rhodes said they were not "here to teach the Greeks how to do their job. We have a lot of common ground."

Supt Rhodes will be advising his Greek counterparts on ways to deal with binge drinking, such as cutting cheap drink promotions, improving training for doormen and installing CCTV to film the activities of troublemakers.