A MULTI-AGENCY approach to tackling crime across Hambleton is proving a success.

The year ahead looks promising for the Community Safety Partnership, with fresh ideas, campaigns and roadshows.

Established in 1999, the partnership of Hambleton District Council, North Yorkshire County Council and North Yorkshire Police Authority aims to reduce crime and disorder in the district.

Figures show that Hambleton is a relatively safe place to live, but community safety manager Chris Fields said people's perceived fear of crime is still a big issue. But drawing in other agencies to focus on specific tasks, the core partnership is working to tackle six key issues:

* Fear of crime - to help residents rationalise their fears of all kinds of crime.

* Burglary - to target, reduce and sustain the reduction of burglary.

* Road safety - to improve road safety and vehicle crime with campaigns.

* Drugs and alcohol - to educate parents and children and help people to recognise signs of substance and alcohol abuse.

* Anti-social behaviour - to cut violence and vandalism by targeting problem areas.

* Young people - to involve youngsters in decision making and help reduce the numbers involved in crime.

Learning how to tackle the different areas successfully has been a gradual process and chairman Dr David Smith said their objectives have changed over time.

"We now work on a problem-solving basis, whereby we tackle individual problems instead of taking an umbrella view across the district as a whole," he said.

The problem-solving groups bring in people from other agencies and local community groups to deal with the broad issues of crime. They include police, fire and rescue, community education and council representatives.

"They analyse the problem from all aspects, the victims, the offenders and the location. No one agency can tackle all of the problems and so these meetings are vital to our work in crime reduction," said community safety officer Val Dodsworth.

Home safety roadshows, neighbourhood watch schemes, motor safety campaigns and community drug talks are just a handful of initiatives that the partnership is presently developing. Their dedication to reducing crime in rural areas has recently awarded Hambleton District Council beacon status.