LANCASHIRE is to be targeted as part of an emergency crackdown on violent street crime after Home Secretary David Blunkett admitted it was spiralling out of control.

The robbery reduction scheme is already operating in London but was not due to be expanded until July.

But a soaring rate of robberies in the past 12 months - up by 26 per cent across the country - has forced the Home Secretary to introduce the scheme early.

The crackdown means up to 5,000 police officers will be switched from traffic and administration duties back to street patrols.

As well as more officers on the streets, the crackdown will see police working with education authorities to try to identify juvenile offenders and courts opening in the evenings and at weekends to speed up the justice system.

Launching the scheme in the 10 blackspots, Mr Blunkett said: "There is a feeling in some urban areas that it is not safe to walk the streets.

"We want more police visible on the streets, immediate action to speed the perpetrators through the system, action to protect victims and witnesses and to ensure that those who are remanded or convicted don't walk freely on our streets. We must reclaim them for decent, law-abiding citizens."

The nine forces joining Lancashire to take part deal with 82 per cent of all robberies in England and Wales.

They are: The Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, Thames Valley, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, Avon and Somerset, South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.