FYLDE folk can sleep easier in their beds as agencies all over the area have joined to form a safety strategy.

The aim is to address problems affecting the quality of people's lives and the issues raised include road safety, youth nuisance and disorder, crime and criminal damage.

These have now become the four priorities in the policy.

Sgt Rick Hoyle of Blackpool Central police station has a new beat in the role of Community Safety Sergeant.

He told the Citizen that Fylde Borough Council, Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Probation Service and the Lancashire Police Authority were joining together in the fight against crime.

"Normally all these agencies work separately towards the same goal and it makes sense to combine our efforts for the good of the community.

"I know we are fortunate in this borough that we do have lower levels of crime and disorder in comparison to other areas of the country, but there are still matters which need addressing. We need to look at the misuse of areas such as Ashton Gardens and and we must increase the visibility of patrols."

In this vein some of the schemes are already up and running, such as informing schoolchildren of the dangers of drugs and drug misuse, while others such as a higher presence of uniformed police officers in renowned trouble areas are planned for the near future.

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