CRAVEN is on target to becoming a safer place thanks to the efforts of the district's community safety partnership.

The group, made up of representatives from the police, council and local organisations, was set up nearly two years ago with the aim of reducing crime and the fear of crime, and one of its first jobs was to carry out a crime survey.

Six task groups have now been set up to tackle areas of concern, and all are making good progress.

Area commander Supt Andy Parker said: "Community safety is beginning to work, and an awful lot has been achieved."

To date, the partnership's main achievement has been to secure Government funding for closed circuit television in Skipton town centre.

"It will be a key factor in reducing crime, and we will be actively seeking pledges from local businesses," said community safety officer Terry Scaife.

The commercial crime task group has also helped to introduce an exclusion order scheme whereby known shoplifters are banned from all the town's shops.

And it is looking at extending the successful Radio Link system to more shops.

"It has been successful in reducing crime in the town, and we are exploring the possibility of extending it to other parts of Craven," said PC Scaife.

The group's other initiatives include promoting Farm Watch, and providing communities with advice on arson prevention measures.

Meanwhile, the domestic burglary group has been busy introducing a repeat victimisation scheme across Craven.

PC Scaife explained: "Those who have been burgled will be visited by officers and offered a security survey and discount vouchers to assist with the cost of crime prevention measures. They will also be offered temporary alarms in their homes to prevent any repeat attack."

Members are also actively promoting Neighbourhood Watch, with letters being sent to all the parish councils. "We want better coverage throughout Craven," said PC Scaife.

Regarding auto crime, task group members are investigating the possibility of setting up a driver behaviour scheme as an alternative sentence for those convicted of driving without due care.

They are also working closely with the national park on the ongoing problem of thefts from vehicles parked in rural areas.

The drugs and alcohol team is spearheading a pilot arrest referral scheme for those arrested for minor offences, and is putting together an information package for parents.

Another of the task groups is concentrating on domestic violence and has put together a lottery bid to fund an office and two workers. "There is nothing set up at the moment, but we do have contacts with Women's Aid and such like," said PC Scaife.

The sixth group is made up of young people, who recently lobbied the chief constable David Kenworthy to try to get him to intervene in their bid to get a licence to sponsor a roundabout on the outskirts of Skipton.

They are concerned that youths generally get a bad press, and want to show a more positive image.

The group is looking at improving facilities and activities for local youngsters, and has already got a small amount of funding - the now defunct Craven Crime Prevention Panel gave its remaining funds to the task group last month.

Mick Cartledge, Craven District Council's representative on the partnership, said: "We have got to keep the momentum going."

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