CRIME levels in Hyndburn are regularly higher than the Lancashire average, it has been revealed.

Now an organisation set up to combat crime and disorder in the borough have unveiled their new 12-month plan to cut the levels.

Among the ideas being put into practice by the Hyndburn Community Safety Partnership are a scheme to cut down on rubbish fires, plans for more CCTV cameras in bus shelters and to cut down on the number of abandoned cars.

The head of the partnership has reassured residents they will see a difference to crime levels over the next year.

Davina Helm, community safety manager, said: "When we look at it compared with the Lancashire average it does look quite bad, but these are cases that can range from standing outside a house chatting, to throwing stones. CCTV is in place too, which detects more. The CCTV picks them up and it's reported directly to the police, so that's why our figures are high."

According to the partnership's Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy for 2004-2005, Hyndburn suffered an average of 186 incidents of juvenile nuisance per ward in 2002-2003, higher than the Lancashire average of 163. The borough also had an average of 309 incidents of disorderly behaviour in a public place, higher than the county average of 285.

But the total number of juvenile nuisance incidents reported in Hyndburn last year is actually lower than the previous year, and according to the police there are a number of reasons why the figures appear high. Inspector Julian Platt of Accrington police said: "We have got four priority wards which have been identified nationally, where there is poor housing and deprivation.

"Also the more pro-active the police are the more recorded crime you are going to get. A good example of that is where we have got the central ward where the CCTV system is one of the best in Lancashire if not the best. It identifies every little incident going on, and the police take action."

By October this year the partnership intends to remove collections of rubbish that could be in danger of being set alight within 24 hours of it being reported. By March 2005, it hopes to have an extra 12 CCTV cameras in place targeting three bus shelters.