MEET Leigh's new crime enforcer - the man who will boost the battle against the town's villains.

David Smith, who took up his influential new post as crime reduction director for the north west this month, will oversee the Government's drive to cut crime.

And Mr Smith, formerly an assistant chief constable for Lancashire Constabulary, has written to Wigan Council's chief executive Steve Jones, outlining his crime-busting plans.

His appointment means that any successful Leigh area crime-fighting scheme could be adopted nationwide, as Mr Smith keeps tabs on policing initiatives in the town.

He said: "I will take from Leigh and other areas in the region particular issues raised and feed them back through the north west government office to Home Office ministers.

"I will also be setting up close working relationships with the police service, local authority, probation and health authorities.

"I will be concentrating on getting down to meeting people on an individual level. I or members of my team will be in the town in due course and there will be regular dialogue."

The new appointment will boost Whitehall plans to cut crime by championing Crime and Disorder Partnerships. Mr Smith will help forge local partnerships, reporting back to central government.

He comes to the post after 35 years as a police officer, joining Lancs Constabulary as a cadet in 1964 and working in CID, underwater search, community affairs and a three-year secondment to a forensic laboratory.

In 1995 he returned to Lancashire, following a spell with Northumbria Police, to become assistant chief constable (operations) before retiring last year.

Ch Insp Alex Wooley of Leigh police, said: "We will continue to work with all our partners in the crime reduction strategy and welcome any more contributions."