A SMALL fund to back crime-cutting initiatives in the Ribble Valley has been given the go-ahead by councillors.

A budget of £5,000 has been backed for crime and disorder projects in the area by members of Ribble Valley Borough Council's policy and finance committee.

The report to committee, written by Bill Alker, the council's policy development officer, states: "Funding for crime and disorder issues has been somewhat haphazard over the past two years.

"There are occasions when we need to be in a position to make a contribution towards some crime and disorder-led initiative such as the Clitheroe town centre mobile radio scheme. A separate budget would clearly help."

The report states that a separate budget would enable the council to pay for:

a licence for the Clitheroe mobile radio scheme, which enables shops to circulate descriptions of shoplifters;

one or two mobile radios for the town centre scheme;

the printing of the Ribble Valley crime and disorder strategy first year review;

contributions towards various crime and disorder initiatives; and

seminars and travelling and meeting costs.