VIOLENT crime and public disorder in Clitheroe town centre looks set to be tackled with a series of get tough measures.

Police, traders and businesses have all voiced concern about problems in the town over the weekends.

Crime rates rise on Friday and Saturday nights with the influx of visitors who flock to the town for its busy nightlife.

Pubs in the town are popular with revellers and are often the setting for late night trouble and violence.

A string of anti-crime initiatives have already been introduced but more are being planned by the police and Ribble Valley Council.

The town hall is now considering adopting a registration scheme for doormen and women working in the town. A similar initiative is already in operation in Blackburn and Darwen and has won the support of the public and the police. Bouncers in the scheme would be given training and advice in self defence, diffusing difficult situations and first aid.

Experts would also be on hand with advice on how to spot and deal with drug dealers and abuse in pubs.

Juvenile nuisance has already been highlighted as a problem in the Ribble Valley particularly in Clitheroe town centre and Henthorn.

Measures already brought in to try and deal with the problem have included an increase in the number of police patrols, a zero tolerance policy and closer cooperation with the Youth Service and local authorities.

In problem hit areas leaflets have been posted to every home in a bid to get to the root of the problems.

Police also revealed at a recent community forum the number of burglaries in the area have fallen in recent months.

But criminals have been stepping up raids on rural and isolated pubs. Known criminals are being targeted by the police in a bid to reverse the trend.

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