POLICE in Lancashire have denied Pauline Clare has been ordered to report to a government minister on the battle against street crime.

It was reported that the Chief Constable had been told to report weekly to Salford MP Hazel Blears about the force's action to tackle robberies and muggings.

Shadow Home Secretary Oliver Letwin said this amounted to Home Secretary David Blunkett trying to "nationalise" the police.

But police today said that they had provided the Home Office with figures every week since Safer Streets was launched a couple of months ago.

"We are one of ten forces in the country who are targeting street crime," said a police spokesman. "We are furnishing the Home Office with figures so they can see what we are doing.

"But it is erroneous to suggest she is reporting to them."

Lancashire has been identified as one of the 10 forces with the worst street crime problem and has been extra money to tackle the problem.

Every week the chief constable has to send in figures and if necessary speak directly to the minister.

Mr Letwin said: "Police forces should be responsible to their communities not the government. It is time to trust local communities and professionals more."

Some senior police officers have complained anonymously that the government is interfering with their local priorities.

But Burnley MP Peter Pike said: "I am in favour of it. I think people will judge the initiative in terms of what happens to street crime.

"It shows that the government is very serious about tackling this problem for the benefit of people in Lancashire."