SHOPLIFTING in Skipton has been halved since the introduction of a "Radiolink" - linking traders with each other and the police.

The reduction is just one of several encouraging statistics offered by the police, who met the public in Skipton at the last of the area forums organised by Craven District Council on Wednesday night.

Council officials from both district and county councils tried to answer questions and allay fears on a variety of topics, from wheelie-bins to road gritting.

Joining them was Inspector Chris Chelton, and his traffic Sergeant Tom Smart, who explained the strides that have been made to tackle crime in all parts of Skipton.

In addressing problems such as speeding, underage drinking and "neighbours from hell", Inspector Chelton and his team have been coming down hard on offenders.

He explained: "What we have done is try to direct police objectives to specific areas of the town. To do this, we have divided Skipton into four areas.

"These include the north, comprising the Regents and Raikes, the town centre, Broughton Road and Keighley Road, and the Greatwood and Horse Close estates.

"On those estates we have had fewer complaints about anti-social behaviour during the last six months.

"We have been looking at targetting problem families who disregard their neighbours. One family is being evicted following allegations that they were supplying drugs.

"In the town centre we have been concentrating on public licencing offences. We have made 76 visits to public houses and looked at the problem of underage drinkers.

"In the last six months, since new legislation was brought in, we have made 46 seizures of alcohol from young people drinking in Skipton."

Such action has been carried out as a means of long-term prevention. But other areas have needed more strongarm tactics, and many speeding drivers have been brought to court and fined as a result of targetted police presence.

Inspector Chelton continued: "On both Broughton and Keighley Roads we have been looking at speeding, and issued a total of 121 tickets for speeding since the last area forum."

One of the most innovative new schemes has been the introduction of an Industrial Watch for crime-hit firms on Skipton's industrial parks which has received the support of 72 firms.

"The scheme involves a ring round scheme, like the successful Radiolink system among the traders in the town centre, so company owners can band together to warn each other of visiting criminals.The good news is that Radiolink itself has effectively halved the number of shoplifting offences in the town centre."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.