Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today detailed the Police Department's quality of life initiative, "Operation Clean Sweep." The enforcement plan includes targeting quality of life violations, aggressively combating low-level offenders, and creating a crime tracking system for the City's homeless shelters. Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Kelly discussed the operation, a direct and comprehensive response to reports of an increase in quality of life offenses since September 11, at an enforcement location in the Long Island City section of Queens.

"Operations like 'Clean Sweep' enable people to live in, work in, and visit a very safe and livable New York City," Mayor Bloomberg said. "We will not let up on Quality of Life Enforcement. This City must remain a place where people can live their lives without being harassed or intimidated."

"The City is beginning to return to a new sense of normalcy after the terrible attacks of September 11," Commissioner Kelly said. "We will build on our relationship with federal authorities to combat terrorism and suppress violent crime, and with 'Operation Clean Sweep' we will assert the public's right to be left alone by aggressively going after quality of life violators."

The patrol initiative is aimed at increasing the Police Department's flexibility to rapidly deploy resources and address quality of life issues in neighborhoods throughout the city. The plan includes enforcing quality of life laws throughout the City's neighborhoods by aggressively targeting squeegee persons, panhandlers, prostitution, public urination, open alcoholic beverage containers in public, smoking marijuana in public, unlicensed peddlers, and homeless encampments. Individuals who violate these laws will be summoned and/or arrested.

A 24-hour hotline number (888-677-LIFE) has been established for the public to report quality of life crimes committed in City neighborhoods. Precinct Commanders will monitor quality of life crimes and redeploy resources where necessary. In conjunction with the Department of Homeless Services, the NYPD will focus on reducing crimes in City shelters and securing the safety of residents. All Borough Commanders will conduct surveys of City shelters located in their precincts to determine security measures that may be implemented and these may include better locks, camera installations, and the posting of police officers in or around shelters.