Crime crackdown 'brilliant'

The Blackburn MP said of the initiative launched by the Lancashire force's Eastern Division: "This is excellent. Lancashire has done very well in cutting crime over the last four years.

"This is good news for people in East Lancashire because it goes straight to the heart of the problem tackling the small group of people who commit a high proportion of burglaries and property crimes -- as much as half.

"This is the type of targeted policing I am trying to encourage nationally."

Mr Straw also commented on the initiative to combat car crime in the area, saying: "It is an important development because justice needs to be public.

"It is important that people know what is happening and that they know who these terrible criminals are."

Police in the Eastern Division have arrested more than 30 burglars in the last five weeks in Blackburn, Darwen, Clitheroe, Great Harwood and Accrington.

The new scheme was launched to build on the recent success of reducing burglaries which has seen the level of housebreaking in the division drop by 50 per cent in the last five years.

Numbers of burglaries in the whole of Blackburn and Darwen are now down to as few as three or four a day, but areas like Whitebirk, Mill Hill and Knuzden are still being targeted. This comes less than a week after a major crackdown on car crime was announced, resulting in the arrest of one of the area's most notorious criminals, Lee Suddick.

In this latest campaign, residents across the division will get a leaflet asking them to check the security of their homes. They are also being asked to contact police with any information about burglars or handlers of stolen goods or if they see anything suspicious in their area.

Eastern Division's Chief Supt John Thompson, said: "We are urging people not to be complacent. As well as burglary, dedicated teams will be targeting other offences such as handling stolen goods, in a bid to make such activities unacceptable in the community."