MEMBERS of the public in Bury and Prestwich will be given a vital say next week on policing priorities in their own area.

And they will be asked whether these meet those of the police and the local authority which has drawn up five key areas to be tackled.

The priorities have been identified in the borough's first-ever crime and disorder audit.

The audit, drawn up to meet the requirements of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, brings together information from the police, Bury Council, Bury and Rochdale Health Authority and the Probation Service.

It is now being used, in consultation with local people, to determine just what the priorities for the future will be in terms of policing.

The audit's five major areas for priority are:

Drugs (including alcohol)

House burglaries

Domestic violence

Youths causing annoyance

Racial harassment. Members of the public, who are unable to attend any of the consultation meetings, can still make their views known.

All they have to do is to fill in the accompanying form and return it to those who have just published the borough's "Crime and Disorder Audit Report."

The purpose of the document is to bring together crime and disorder information from various agencies.

And a series of local meetings will determine whether the five priorities outlined reflect the concerns of local residents.

The consultation process, together with the results of the audit, will help shape priorities for the borough's final crime and disorder strategy.

The report states: "The audit presents an overview of various crime and disorder activities in Bury, which will provide the basis for producing a detailed strategy and action plan that will be used over the next three years to reduce crime and disorder, and its fear, in Bury.

Members of the public will be given an opportunity to help influence the final document by airing their views.

Consultation meetings will be held next Monday at the Mosses Centre, Cecil Street, Bury, beginning at 7.30pm.

A second meeting will take place the following evening, at the same time, at Prestwich High School in Heys Road.

And next Wednesday, at 6.30pm, another meeting will be held in Bury - this time at Elton High School, Walshaw Road.

Meanwhile, readers are invited to fill in the accompanying form. It can be returned Freepost, which means postage is paid.

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