BURNLEY is being held up as a shining example to others when it comes to tackling crime.

The town's reputation as a major 'crime buster' is growing throughout the country thanks to the highly acclaimed initiatives launched during the last year.

Various crime prevention partnerships have resulted in a drastic reduction in crime and now Burnley Borough Council has scooped this year's Local Government News Council Crimestop award for its town centre scheme and has been highly commended for its work in Burnley Wood.

Judges were impressed with the combination of measures introduced in Burnley, with help from the police and Burnley Safer Cities project, which have reduced town centre crime by nearly a third in just 12 months.

They include CCTV with help points, a community radio network, a policy of shuttering and a registration scheme for club doorstaff.

The Burnley Wood scheme brought burglary down by a quarter in 1995 thanks to more back street lighting, youth work, graffiti removal and a homesafe burglary reduction scheme, which provides security packages to victims of burglary in the district.

Council leader Kath Reade is delighted their efforts have been recognised.

"Other authorities have been given government money to do what we and our partners have found the resources for ourselves. We are now seeing the benefits of our investment and we are pleased to be given some credit for that."

Superintendent Mike Griffin echoed the council's sentiments: "The partnership we have going for crime prevention in Burnley is first class. It is a good model for any other town in Lancashire, if not the country.

"This award is a credit to the council in Burnley and we are glad to be working with them," he said.

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