A COMMUNITY leader from Morecambe has spoken out against the authorities for not including potential victims of crime in a new anti-crime initiative.

Brian Ogston - a prominent member of the Morecambe Labour Party and member of the Poulton Residents' Association - praised the fact that the new government body was created to come up with ideas to reduce crime.

But he was outraged that the steering group will include the police, city and county council representatives and members of the chamber of commerce but nobody from any residents or tenants association.

The minutes of the last 'Crime and Disorder Steering Group' stated that community representatives would not be nominated to the Steering Group. The list of potential partners was amended to include local newspaper groups and to delete tenant groups.

Mr Ogston fumed at that decision. He raged: "Many council housing association tenants live on the front line of crime, anti social behaviour and drug abuse problems. Surely they have just as much right to collective representation on the Lancaster Area Anti-Crime Partnership as local business and employers whose Chamber of Commerce has been accepted into the partnership.

"At the moment Ryelands people are setting up a residents group to make their area a better place to live in. But if they want to take part in the LAACDP it seems they'll be told 'sorry, we don't want you.'"

A spokesman for the city council - the leading organising body of the initiative - explained members of tenants groups would still be more than welcome to attend meetings and make suggestions. He added: "It was thought the police and community forum was a better organisation to consult with residents groups. We wanted newspapers on to advertise what we do."

A police spokesman added: "We didn't want to make the steering group too unwieldy with too many members. It has to be dynamic. The tenants groups are still part of the equation and will be consulted on decisions."

A county council spokesman deferred any questions to the city council.

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