Police officers spent hours hanging knitted pom-poms from trees in a bizarre bid to 'reduce the fear of crime' - rather than going after criminals.
Residents around Bede Park in Leicester say they want more street lighting and CCTV cameras after a survey found people living there felt more at risk than anywhere else in the city.
Academics say the fluffy balls will make people smile, inducing feelings of security.
But locals dubbed it the 'worst crime fighting idea ever'.