Businesses urged to join city crime fight

High Street shops, leading figures from industry and commerce and local voluntary groups are to be asked to join the Government in a new fight against city crime, writes Ngaio Crequer.

They will join a new National Board for Crime Prevention, announced yesterday by Michael Jack, a Home Office minister. 'Fighting crime is a top priority which can only be successful with a partnership approach,' Mr Jack said. 'Our new strategy is designed to bring together all those concerned with tackling crime.

'We are not asking private enterprise to pay for crime prevention. We are not sending round the begging bowl. But we want the benefit of their ideas in crime development. We will invite people to become key players so we can brainstorm our way forward.'

He said he had already talked to two retailers, Dixon's and Marks and Spencer, both of which had shown interest.

Mr Jack also announced 20 new 'Safer Cities' projects as part of the strategy. These are crime prevention initiatives to tackle crime and the fear of crime in urban areas through local projects. Guaranteed Home Office funding for 16 of 20 earlier projects will end next year and the hope is that they will continue with local backing.

Some existing projects have reduced crimes such as burglary by up to 90 percent.