POLICE have pledged to crack burglary and car crime after a major fall in offences in the last year.

Figures for April 2003 to March 2004 show a 21 per cent fall in burglaries and a 20 per cent drop in car crime in Blackburn.

And the commitment comes despite a rise in car crime during April, when there were 162 offences.

Detective Superintendent Neil Smith told a Lancashire Police Authority community meeting at Blackburn Town Hall: "Over the last 12 months, burglary and auto crime were significantly down.

"Burglary was at its lowest level for many years. It was down 21 per cent - meaning 190 less burglaries." This means a drop from just over 1,230 to around 950.

And he said there were 397 fewer auto crimes - down approximately 20 per cent from 2,669 to around 1,985.

He said it was the second consecutive 12-month period that burglary levels had fallen - there was a 17 per cent drop in 2002.

But the car crime crackdown came after Blackburn experienced a six per cent rise in auto crime in 2002.

Det Supt Smith said: "We are continuing to focus on burglary and auto crime. Burglars are the most determined offenders and cause a lot of harm to the community.

"We also have dedicated auto crime and drugs teams. We're doing a lot of work in Blackburn, especially around drugs. The challenge for 2004 is staying ahead.

"Overall crime figures were slightly up and violent crime went up. But this is linked to crime recording and accounting, which now includes low-level violence and harassment."

He said the Government was again changing the way crime figures were collected, for a greater focus on victims. What effect this has remained to be seen.

Sharon Kemp, Blackburn Community Safety Partnership manager, gave a breakdown of her organisation's work on burglary and car crime.

She said 1,200 homes had been made more secure in the last year, with better locks, windows and fixtures. Around 60 businesses were visited to improve security, and nine shops on housing estates received CCTV systems and other improvements to shop-fronts and accesses.

She said the six streets with the worst car crime in Blackburn were being targeted. Work was ongoing, so she declined to name them. But action included targeting suspects, and looking for car park, lighting and security improvements.