POLICE crime figures in East Lancashire have made pretty depressing reading in the last few years.

But there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel.

Crime rates in the Blackburn Division, which includes Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, were down by 8.6 per cent and there was a 9.2 per cent drop in the Pennine Division which includes Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

This was better than the six per cent target set for Lancashire Police by Home Secretary Jack Straw.

But East Lancashire's main towns, Blackburn and Burnley, were still the busiest crime spots in the county.

The overall results were achieved against tough performance targets set by Chief Constable Pauline Clare and they are an indication that the fight against crime is going the right way.

Like most forces in the country, Lancashire Police are stretched to the limit, operating with a manpower shortage and against criminals who are better organised than ever before.

So it is encouraging to see such a positive set of figures. For once, there is more good news than bad news.

New technology has played its part but, more importantly, there is a determination and devotion to duty within the ranks of Lancashire Police which is making life increasingly difficult for the criminal fraternity.

Every law abiding citizen in East Lancashire will be heartened by the latest crime statistics.