CAR thieves are being driven out of town in central Blackpool.

Car snatches and thefts from vehicles - once the bane of town centre car parks - have dropped by a huge 40 per cent in the last three months compared with the same time last year.

The reduction is just one of the achievements revealed in the first quarterly report of the Blackpool Community Partnership - an umbrella body of agencies led by the police and Blackpool Council.

Co-operation between the organisations - including shared information, equipment and expertise - has led to a 21.2 per cent drop in overall town centre crime compared with the same three months last year.

Though they were starting from a high base - last year the town centre's crime-rate was seven times the national average - the figures do show a significant shift in the right direction.

House burglaries are down 30 per cent and other burglaries down 21.5 per cent. Violent crime is down 13.6 per cent and road casualties have fallen by 25.8 per cent.

The only increases were in criminal damage - up 1.5 per cent - and nuisance incidents such as juvenile annoyance, drunkenness, obscene phone-calls and breaches of the peace which were up two per cent.

Partnership chairman Supt Richard Taylor said the figures demonstrated the partnership approach was the key to success.

"Our progress so far has been achieved through the combined efforts of a number of organisations that are now able to co-ordinate their activities and resources through the partnership. "However, it's important to recognise that the figures will fluctuate. "Our main aim is to achieve an overall reduction in crime and disorder after three years."

Partnership vice-chairman Coun David Sloan pledged to publicise their progress.

He said: "It's important we keep people informed about how we're doing because this fight against crime isn't just about the partnership - it's about people in the town pulling together because it's a battle none of us can win alone."

Other bodies in the partnership include Fylde Victim Support, Age Concern, Blackpool Hotel and Guest House Association, Probation Service, NW Lancashire Health Authority, Town Centre Forum, Blackpool Challenge Partnership and Fylde Licensed Victuallers' Association.

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