ST ALBANS has been given a £105,000 cash bonus from the Government-backed Communities Against Drugs scheme to help tackle street crime and drug dealing.

The money is part of a £70 million three-year project to step up front line projects and services in the fight against crime nationally.

Mr Paul Tonks, of St Albans District Council community safety office, said the money was crucial for reducing crime in the district and making the streets safer.

Now in its second year of funding, St Albans' community safety team is working with police and other crime-fighting partnerships to decide how the money will be spent.

Mr Tonks said it could be used to tackle bogus officials and improve personal safety and home security.

Or the cash could go towards more CCTV cameras, better security lighting and other physical and environmental improvements to deter street drug dealing, he said. It could also help to fund schemes to deal with anti-social behaviour, noise nuisance and neighbourhood watch schemes.

Mr Matthew Kelly, of Drugs Prevention Advisory Services, said: "We want to see a more holistic approach to drugs problems.

"This includes building partnerships with local communities, and approaching both the supply and demand for drugs in a smarter way.

"This means not just locking up dealers to stop the supply of drugs, but also alongside that policing effort, tackling the demand for drugs with rehabilitation programmes, education and awareness drives, and outreach work.

"This is a partnership between local drug action teams and crime and disorder partnerships which bring together the full range of agencies.

"These include the police, probation, local authorities and schools, health and social services and drug treatment providers."

This year the Home Office is urging partnerships to make combating street crime a priority by utilising community initiatives and high visibility policing in drug spots, supporting neighbourhood and street wardens and support for community, parents' and victims' groups.

July 3, 2002 14:30