A CRIME-cracking strategy for Blackburn and Darwen has been launched by Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson.

The blueprint for tackling crime covers the next three years and has been drawn up following a huge survey and public consultation exercise.

Police, Blackburn with Darwen Council and other organisations have joined forces to work on the project.

The aim is to reduce all crime in the borough by six per cent, cut public nuisance incidents by three per cent and traffic accidents by the same amount.

The strategy was officially launched at Sudellside Community Centre by the Labour MP and Government minister. Sudell is one of four areas identified in the strategy as a crime "hotspot".

The other "hotspots" are Blackburn town centre, Whitebirk and Mill Hill and police will be concentrating extra resources in all four areas. Peter Robinson, chairman of the specially set up Crime and Disorder Partnership group was at the launch.

He said: "The agencies have worked together to produce a three-year strategy which tackles issues that have a real affect on people's lives in this borough.

"The strategy develops new and pioneering ways of working together in partnership with the community to tackle crime and road safety. It is a living and evolving document with the capacity to move forward and respond to the changing nature of crime and disorder in the borough."

Chief Superintendent Eddie Walsh, head of police in the Blackburn area, said: "This strategy offers us new opportunities to work together with the council to look at a number that cause crime.

"This strategy is a great step forward towards reducing crime across Blackburn with Darwen."

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