A new crime reduction strategy was being launched today which aims to cut crime in York by 10 per cent in key areas like domestic burglary and alcohol-related violence.

The York Crime Reduction Strategy is the next phase in a co-ordinated approach to tackling crime in the city, involving North Yorkshire Police, City of York Council and the Safer York Partnership.

Eight priority areas are listed in the strategy, see graphic, left.

The strategy was worked out after a crime audit which was carried out to find out more about patterns of crime and disorder in the city.

Coun Rod Hills, leader of City of York Council, said: "This is a clear and robust strategy for fighting crime in York. Now the real work starts; the council is making a £500,000 investment in crime prevention and community safety this year and together through the Safer York Partnership I am sure we will deliver results, reduce crime and make York a safer city."

The Safer York Partnership is made up of groups from the private, public and voluntary sectors.

Acting Superintendent Gary Barnett, from North Yorkshire Police (York division) said: "It's good that we've now got official recognition that fighting crime is everybody's job - not just the police. The new partnership is definitely the way forward for making York a safer place to be."

Detective Chief Inspector John Lacy, of York Police, said: "York was recently voted the most desirable city in the country for people to live - let's keep it that way."

Bob Wood, chairman of the Safer York Partnership, said: "The Safer York Partnership will be a significant weapon in York's determined effort to reduce crime. There is no doubt that the support we are receiving from every sector will enable us to achieve our objective of reducing the number of victims of crime in York."

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