A LOCAL AUTHORITY has been shortlisted for a Beacon status award for its efforts at crime fighting.

Beacon status, a national scheme run through the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, is awarded to authorities which demonstrate excellence and achievements in particular areas of work.

Scarborough Borough Council is through to the third and final stage of the assessment process and an announcement on the successful councils is expected in April.

The authority has been shortlisted for its work in the Safer Communities Partnership.

Council chief executive, John Trebble said: "This is a significant achievement for the council and, in particular, the work of the Safer Communities team which is leading the way in the partnership work it is doing in this field.

"If we can achieve Beacon status, it will be a tremendous way of demonstrating the authority's commitment to delivering safer communities, which is one of the council's key priorities."

The Beacon council scheme is a way of sharing good practice so that authorities can learn from each other.

Scarborough's application was based on its commitment to crime reduction, which the council says is demonstrated by its involvement in the Safer Communities Partnership, the production of the borough's crime reduction strategy and investment in a new CCTV and out-of-hours emergency centre.