Help to keep the community safe

Leader of the council Cllr Graham Gubby made his appeal on Monday when Rother Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership s draft audit report for 2001 was submitted to Rother s district services committee.

The report has been prepared by Melvyn Elliott, community safety coordinator for partners Rother council, Sussex Police and the county council.

Sidley and the town centre suffer from "considerable problems" compared with the rest of Rother, says the audit.

"This is also reflected in the fear of crime surveys and in crime figures generally. It should also be noted that a number of areas within rural Rother do suffer as a result of low incomes, the high age profile of the elderly and disabled and limited job prospects.

"This is compounded by an extremely poor transport infrastructure.

"All these factors should be carefully considered when prioritising action to be undertaken to reduce crime and disorder highlighted by other means."

The draft audit says: "In very broad terms, burglary in dwellings has declined, but burglary from non-dwellings has risen over the last year.

"Criminal damage remains a problem and theft of motor vehicles in some areas appears to have risen more recently. Shoplifting is rising in some areas and this may be worthy of more analysis.

"Assaults and woundings have shown signs of increasing and this may require more detailed focus."

While drunkeness has shown a "noticeable downturn" and disturbances in public places are slightly down, disturbances in Sidley are heading for a 50 per cent increase.

Central and Sidley wards are suffering the most from criminal damage.

"On present trends, the Sidley figures will show a considerable increase at the end of the year if this pattern continues.

"This is also the case in the overall figures for Bexhill where on present trends the figures will end up close to 720 cases of criminal damage."

Three new "tailor made" action groups will take responsibility for delivering parts of the strategy. They will focus on:

*Property crime

*Personal safety

*Fear of crime