BLACKBURN Safer Cities is today (Thursday, May 16) holding a high-profile seminar in a bid to attract funding for its Homesafe scheme.

Direct Line Insurance pumped £28,000 into the pilot project - which offers burglary victims free security - to temporarily boost Safer Cities' contribution.

Safer Cities must now illustrate the success of the scheme to encourage companies to replace Direct Line.

The seminar will be attended by Direct Line Insurance representatives and Victim Support, Council leader Malcolm Doherty, Police Inspector Adrian Dolphin, and councillor Maureen Bateson, on her final appointment as Blackburn mayor.

Safer Cities co-ordinator Geoff Whitehead said: "This seminar is to celebrate the success of the scheme and map out where we can go from here.

"We have had a very positive response to Homesafe. People we have helped say they feel much safer now than they ever did.

"Since it started there has been a 33 per cent reduction in crime in the infirmary area, a 64 per cent drop in Longshaw and 66.5 per cent in Green Lane."

Mr Whitehead added: "Not only that but it also encourages different organisations, such as the police, Neighbourhood Watch and Victim Support to work together."

To date, Safer Cities have contributed around £42,000 to the scheme but say they are looking to extend into the City Challenge area to raise future funds.

"City Challenge cash is a possibility," said Mr Whitehead, "but we can't guarantee it. We are hoping that another company like Direct Line wants to get involved."

Anyone interested in backing the scheme should contact Geoff Whitehead on (01254) 668116.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.