POLICE in Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley are well ahead of their targets for cutting crime, anti-social behaviour and road casualties.

Chief Superintendent Eddie Walsh, head of Lancashire Police's Eastern Division, announced the figures at a meeting of Hyndburn Police and Community Forum.

The figures show that from April to September, crime has been cut by 10.7 per cent. The force's target is to cut crime by six per cent between April 1999 and April 2000.

Anti-social behaviour is down by 11.3 per cent and road casualties have been reduced by 25.1 per cent.

The target figure for both categories is to achieve a reduction of three per cent by April. Hyndburn councillor Miles Parkinson asked whether new ways of calculating crime figures meant the public had previously been misled as to the true picture of crime.

Chief Supt Walsh told the meeting at Hollins High School, Baxenden, that the new calculation methods reflected the number of victims of crime and helped give police and residents a clearer picture.

He said that offences such as drug possession were now counted in the crime statistics, although they had not been previously.

Coun Parkinson asked whether Chief Supt Walsh considered the new methods of recording crimes were the correct ones.

Chief Supt Walsh replied: "The Government is trying to be more honest about crime.

"Times change and the new methods mean we get a better picture."

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