MORE than a quarter of violent crime in Burnley occurs predominantly in two town centre streets, according to a new report.

Some 480 offences were recorded in the Hammerton Street and St James' Street areas over a 12 month period, the study by Burnley community safety partnership found.

The town centre was also named in the report as the hotspot for alcohol-related crime at the peak weekend times between Friday and Sunday nights when three quarters of all offences occur there.

Burnley's community safety partnership has drawn up a strategic assessment which outlines the progress of its three year plan to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour which concluded in March.

The assessment, which was discussed at Burnley's full council meeting on Wednesday, also describes its key aims for the next 12 months.

This includes reducing crime and disorder, anti-social behaviour, alcohol and drugs misuse and promoting community cohesion within Burnley.

To reduce violent crime in Burnley town centre, the report highlights the introduction of the retreat and recover initiative, where representatives from agencies are available to intervene in various problems.

The report said that domestic abuse remains a 'high priority for Burnley', which has above-average figures compared with the rest of Lancashire.

Between April 2006 and March 2007 there were 1,814 reported incidents of domestic violence in Burnley. For the same period Burnley Women's Aid received 3,687 calls to the helpline and 283 referrals.

Over the next 12 months the partnership plans to begin a pilot work within schools and with young people to combat the problem.

Reducing burglary is another of the strategy's key aims. The report said that four Burnley wards, Bankhall, Coalclough with Deerplay, Rosegrove with Lowerhouse and Trinity, are the location for 44 per cent of all burglaries.

They are also the hotspots for vehicle crime, according to the report.