A DETECTIVE Inspector warned against complacency today, after nearing a government target for reducing burglaries two years ahead of schedule.

Neil Hunter vowed to sustain the multi-agency crackdown on the "appalling violation of people's homes."

He heads the burglary group of the Blackburn with Darwen Crime and Disorder Partnership, which is aiming to meet the Government target of reducing burglaries by 24 per cent by 2005.

Boroughs across the country are taking part in the scheme with their own partnerships. And after one year, burglaries in Blackburn with Darwen are already down by 17.7 per cent during the past 12 months, from 1,437 to 1,182.

The number of burglaries solved is around the 25 per cent mark, five per cent above the force's target.

As well as the police, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Twin Valley Homes, Victim Support, Home Safe, Action for Jobs, drug referral schemes and Trading Standards are involved in the group.

They drew up an action plan last year to spend a substantial amount of government cash on different projects.

For example, Twin Valley Homes has made 500 of its properties more secure, while the police set up a burglary team which has a sergeant and four constables.

DI Hunter said: "The burglary team identified the prolific offenders we felt were committing burglaries. I think that has gone a long way to driving the figures down.

"From a personal point of view, I can think of no worse offence that we investigate on a regular basis than someone having their own home violated.

"Some people never get over it. We will continue to focus our attention on people who commit these types of offences and cause such misery in communities.

"We would like a strong message to go out to them that they do so at their peril."

The group targeted the four burglary hotspot areas of Whitebirk, Mill Hill, Infirmary, all Blackburn and Sudell, in Darwen, with special meetings where crime prevention advice was issued.

DI Hunter added: "It is the responsibility of the community to resist the temptation to buy goods at a cheaper price that they suspect are stolen.

"They have to frustrate the opportunities of the burglar. So far, the results have been encouraging. Now we want to sustain it over the next few years.

"If we continue in the same vain, I am sure we will comfortably meet the 24 per cent reduction target we have been set."

Another meeting is at the Ivy Street Community Centre, in the Infirmary area of Blackburn, on March 26.