A THOUSAND homes in Earby were leafleted by the British National Party this week, in a bid to recruit new members.

In a letter to the Craven Herald, branch organiser Robert Longworth said the leafleting campaign was in response to a call from an Earby resident concerned about crime in the town.

"We responded to this call as a result of inaction by all the authorities that should be concerned with the dealing and useage of drugs," said the letter.

It claimed that two town centre properties were involved in drug dealing and had been visited by the police, adding: "It also appears that burglary has increased significantly and is probably related to this issue."

The letter went on: "In view of the interest shown and the positive response we received from residents in Earby, we will be establishing a unit in the town which will be used to monitor further developments."

The leaflet delivered to Earby homes was headed "Make Britain safe!" and claimed that "We live in a crime ridden society".

It called on the courts to get tough with offenders, for more discipline in schools, and for the reintroduction of the death penalty for certain types of murder.

It added: "We must rebuild a sense of national community, in which everyone pulls together. This can only be done with a population that has a common culture, common values and common loyalties - a nation united within itself. It is impossible if our communities are broken up by unemployment, the destruction of the family and the importation of alien values."

Commenting on the letter and leaflet, Sgt Peter Henderson, the officer in charge of the day-to-day policing of West Craven, said there had been a small number of burglaries and attempted burglaries in Earby last week.

Residents were made aware by signs fixed to lampposts in the affected areas - an initiative designed to alert them to the fact rather than alarm them.

However, an Earby man was arrested and charged over the weekend and crime levels throughout West Craven remain very low.

"Yes, there has been a recent increase in burglary in Earby, but four offences can only be seen as a 'significant increase' when the usual amount is zero, or at worst very minimal," said Sgt Henderson.

"We put extra resources into the area and targeted known offenders, which resulted in the arrest."

He added that drugs-related crime was now a problem everywhere, and the police were actively tackling it in Earby and throughout the district.

Anyone with concerns or information about crime in West Craven can phone the police on 01282 425001, or call the free and confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111, or speak to any police officer.