POLICE chiefs are planning to target town centre thugs in Accrington as part of a crackdown on crime in Hyndburn.

The move follows the publication of the borough's first ever crime audit, a wide-ranging survey of crime patterns in the area.

The statistics have been used as the basis of strategy for tackling crime and disorder in the borough. A draft strategy has been drawn up and comments from the public are being gathered before the final document is published.

Similar initiatives are being carried out in areas across East Lancashire and a series of crime strategies are being drawn up. The strategy identifies the town centre as a major problem area. It and regularly has the highest crime rates.

Drugs and alcohol are seen as major factors in contributing to crime in the area and the audit also revealed many offenders are young people.

Police and the local authority are hoping to look at the link between poor results at school and criminal behaviour.

Huncoat has also been pinpointed as a problem area, particularly the streets around Within Grove. And Police also say extra work needs to be carried out in the Eachill area following a series of complaints about youth disorder.

Hyndburn Council leader George Slynn said: "This strategy sets out our commitment to making Hyndburn a better place to live, work and play for everybody. We have put forward our first ideas on how to tackle the existing problems in the borough and, more importantly, begin to tackle underlying causes. We aim to make a lasting difference."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.