VIOLENT crime and drugs are the biggest problems faced by police in Accrington, according to the chief of the division.

But Superintendent Malcolm Rawcliffe went on to say that the overall crime rate in the borough was falling and his officers were winning the war against burglars and car thieves.

Superintendent Rawcliffe outlined the Hyndburn division's strategy at a policy and resources meeting.

He said: "The drugs problem is huge. It is like Pandora's Box, once you open it up it all sorts of problems would rear up.

"It has to be dealt with in two ways, through enforcement as well as social support.

"I could use a large part of the police force in Accrington to deal with nothing else but drug related crime." Superintendent Rawcliffe added: "Town centre violence is difficult to reduce.

"It is usually committed by people who have had a lot to drink and they are difficult to reason with.

"Accrington on Sunday night is one of the most troubled spots in Lancashire but we are looking to combat that."

The police hope the introduction of the CCTV system and a tighter control of licensed premises will help to solve the problem.

Superintendent Rawcliffe pointed out to councillors that crime in the borough had fallen by more than eight per cent in the last year.

House burglaries had dropped by 15.9 per cent but the biggest success was a 27 per cent fall in the number of car thefts.

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