THE results of a survey which found businesses were keen to get involved in the fight against crime are echoed in Lancashire according to a probation boss.

The county's chief probation officer, John Crawforth, said his service was already working with local companies to identify problem areas and come up with schemes to reduce crime.

A national survey by MORI of business leaders found more than four out of five believed the task of reducing crime should be shared with business. Six out of seven were keen to consider developing projects with criminal justice organisations such as the probation service and the police to cut crime.

The most popular suggestion from the survey was that companies should put resources into local community projects such as unpaid work to be carried out by offenders serving Community Service Orders.

Staff from the Lancashire Probation Service are attending this week's National Probation Convention in London where Home Secretary Jack Straw is one of the speakers.

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