New street safety plan launched

Organisers behind the ambitious project said its success depended heavily on community involvement.

The consultation to find out what people in Pendle think should be done to improve their safety was launched yesterday at Nelson Town Hall by the Pendle Community Safety Partnership which brings together Pendle Council, the police and other groups.

The aim is to get suggestions from residents on how a wide range of crimes and anti-social behaviour can be tackled.

It follows an extensive audit into the nature and extent of crime and disorder to establish the underlying causes of some of the social and economic problems which lead to crime.

A summary of the audit and a questionnaire will be sent to homes across the borough and the document will be available in council offices, libraries, schools and other places so that residents have a clear picture of what is being proposed.

The main issues raised by the audit were juvenile nuisance, road safety, racial harassment, victimisation, drug misuse, domestic burglary, car crime and domestic violence.

Superintendent Mike Griffin, head of policing in Pendle, said a number of initiatives were either under way or about to start which would cut crime.

Community radio schemes in Nelson, Colne and Barnoldswick which link traders directly to the police and changes to policing in the area, due to come in from December 1, which will make police officers responsible for specific areas, will help cut problems, he said.

Partnership members promised they would look at CCTV if there was a demand from the public but the high cost of any scheme may mean the money could be better spent on other crime-fighting projects.

Dr Ikram Malik, chairman of the partnership's steering group, added: "We want citizens to feel they are part of this partnership. It is theirs and their help is essential."

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