A CRACKDOWN on alcohol-fuelled youth crime and anti-social behaviour has been launched in Lancashire as part of a £1.4million scheme.

Some £40,000 will be spent in the county after Blackburn with Darwen and the Lancashire County Council areas were identified as a priority by the Government.

The money, which some critics have claimed is not enough to make a real diffe-rence, has been given ahead of the summer holidays when anti-social behaviour traditi-onally rises.

The cash will be spent on using powers to confiscate alcohol, dispersing young people and taking advantage of anti-social behaviour tools such as Acceptable Behavi-our Contracts.

There will also be early inte-rvention projects and support ensuring young people have access to targeted youth support services, plus projects for parents to get the support they need.

Events to build public confi-dence and to address negative perceptions of young people will also be held.

Government minister Ed Balls said: “We know alcohol is a key factor contributing to young people getting involved in anti-social behaviour and low level crime.”

Home Office ministers are now writing to 69 youth crime priority areas, including Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire, asking them to coordinate a range of enfor-cement activity.

Local areas must make sure police, youth offending teams and street-based teams use all the powers available to them to crackdown on alcohol-related bad behaviour.

But Helen Newlove, the widow of Garry Newlove who was kicked to death by a gang of youths outside his home in Warrington, said: “I still think it is not enough money.

“It is not what it says on the tin because it is going to have to be shared among 69 areas.

“They all need to work together and we need to see results quickly.”