DRUG crime and anti-social behaviour will top the agenda at the first of a new series of meetings aimed at bringing the police and community together.

Police in Burnley and Padiham have launched the series of regular meetings to offer local communities the chance to find out more about the work of officers and in particular what is being done to tackle key issues of concern.

They are holding the first on Wednesday, March 26, from 7pm, at Burnley Lane Baptist Church, in Colne Road.

Residents will be given the chance to air their views on the activity of local police officers and their partnership agencies.

Drug crime and anti-social behaviour will be the main subject of the first meeting, which will feature a series of presentations by senior police officers as well as previously unseen video footage of officers executing drugs warrants locally. Councillors and other community workers are invited.

Superintendent Steve Hartley said: "We are introducing the new quarterly community meetings across Pennine Division in order to improve communication with local residents and give them a better insight into our work.

"We are particularly keen to show our communities how important their input is, by illustrating just what we can do as a result of information received from the public -- via the new drugsline for example."

A further community meeting will be held in Padiham in the next few months. Leader of Burnley Council Stuart Caddy, said: "I think these meetings are an excellent idea. I attended a meeting of the Duke Bar Residents Association last night and a lot of residents' concerns were related to anti-social behaviour, so I obviously welcome this approach by the police.

"I fully support the police going out to give a reasoned explanation as to how they are tackling anti-social behaviour. My main concern is that the police need to get out and build confidence."