CRIME rates have been slashed in Dalton - thanks to more police patrols.

A pilot scheme that drafted in more officers has been very successful.

Clr Ken Smith told members of the Huddersfield Committee Community Safety Sub-Group that overall crime dropped from 275 incidents between January and March to 180 between April and June.

Revealing information supplied by Huddersfield police, Clr Smith said: "They took a decision to target this area for an initiative because an analysis of criminality showed it to be a hotspot.

"A police sergeant and five constables were assigned to concentrate on this area.

"These results were quite remarkable in terms of criminal activity."

House burglary was down by a third, robbery almost disappeared and there was a doubling of drug dealing arrests.

Clr Smith said that the additional officers were patrolling the streets in uniform as much as possible.

He added that the local authority was also involved and in the pilot and co-ordinated a number of activities to back up the police action.

Simon Massey from the Community Safety Partnership said that work had taken place to break down gang relationships and an early intervention panel had been established.

In all, 26 people were receiving some form of intervention such as a warning, unacceptable behaviour contract or a referral for an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO).

"We have been working closely with schools and looking at drug issues and drug myths with young people," he said.

He added that they were working with the DRAM local regeneration organisations.

"We have got a citizenship group going into schools and getting the kids to go and identify what problems there are with the area that would prevent crime.

"Are there street lights out of order? Does street lighting need to be improved? Should bushes be cut back?"

Mr Massey said that they intended to work with schools to open up out of hours.

"We are looking to develop activities such as normal sports like football and boxing.

"There are various groups in the voluntary sector who are very good at working with individuals who are a problem, and which have experience of being able to bring about changes in behaviour."

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