POLICE claim they are winning the long term war against burglary and car crime in Blackburn, despite increases which have prompted a new crackdown.

Figures for the last five years show that average levels of both car crime and burglary have fallen and that the recent rise is just a blip in the bigger picture.

The high profile Operation Enforce launched this weekend is a response to a recent increase in burglary and vehicle crime in the town centre, Mill Hill and Fishmoor areas.

Police figures for October -- for the whole of Blackburn -- show that on average there have been seven burglaries a day, with the highest count standing at 11 in one day.

Vehicle crime figures show an average of four offences a day with eight the highest in one day. This compares with an average of five burglaries for the same period last year and five vehicle crimes.

However, figures for previous years show that the long-term situation is improving with both car crime and burglary down.

Car crime has fallen by more than 30 per cent since 1995-1996 and domestic burglaries by almost 50 per cent over the same period. Car crime fell from 6,905 in 1995/6 to 4,426 in 2000/01 and burglary from 4,288 in 1995/6 to 2,098 for 2000/1.

Lancashire Police have set targets to reduce burglaries by another 34 per cent by March 2005 and vehicle crime by 30 per cent by the same date.

Chief Inspector Neil Smith, the man in charge of Operation Enforce, said: "Over the last few years we have increased our efforts to reduce crime in these areas and the success can be seen in the drop in the numbers of vehicle crimes and burglaries.

"Operation Enforce is designed to tackle what is a slight increase in these crimes which we are not prepared to tolerate. However, the levels of these crimes are nothing like they were five years ago."

One of the main aims of the clampdown is the arrest of prolific offender Lee Suddick, who escaped from Blackburn magistrates court last week.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to shoplifting, an offence committed within days of his release from a prison sentence. A warrant has now been issued for his arrest.

The 19-year-old, who gave his address as Fawcett Close, Blackburn, was named earlier this year in an unprecedented police move which was praised by Blackburn MP Jack Straw.

The then Home Secretary said it was important that people were made aware of who the criminals were and exactly what they were doing.

Extra officers, including Operational Support Unit, CID, community safety officers and traffic wardens will be drafted in to support regular beat officers for Operation Enforce.