-- Responding to safety concerns and complaints, police launched an operation targeting panhandling around busy thoroughfares and Newark Penn Station, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose announced Friday.

"Panhandling enforcement has been neglected over the years, not anymore," Ambrose added. "[Panhandlers] aggressively approaching vehicles in traffic creates a litany of safety concerns in addition to being a constant complaint of motorists."

The crackdown began Tuesday and led to the arrests of 12 panhandlers, according to the Department of Public Safety. Charges included active warrants, disorderly conduct and interfering with transportation.

Two were given quality of life summonses while officers cleared five others who were in traffic, officials said.

Police focused on areas of McCarter Highway, Penn Station, Central Avenue and 1st Street, the Interstate 280 ramps, Speedway and South Orange avenues, Chancellor Avenue and Fayban Place, and Clinton Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

"Motorists feel unsafe and they should not have to," Ambrose said in a statement. "A panhandler definitely isn't a welcoming sight, isn't a positive reflection of what Newark has to offer and it will not be tolerated."

Ambrose said police would continue similar operations to deter panhandling in the city. In addition to encounters with drivers, the panhandlers can cause crashes or be hit by cars while asking for money, he added.

On Saturday, Ambrose added police would also work with the city's health department and social services agencies to "address the core issues that cause people to panhandle and to offer them help."

"Panhandling remains a public safety hazard with people standing in traffic at intersections begging for money. Sometimes, intersections have several panhandler aggressively competing for cash. Our actions are in response to safety concerns first and my commitment to respond to citizen complaints," Ambrose said.

In recent weeks, the director has announced a host of quality of life enforcement operations, addressing littering, unlicensed peddling, traffic issues and drug-related offenses.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.