by LORNA McVICARS

A strategy to improve the safety of residents in Hertsmere has been declared a success, by a senior Hertsmere police officer.

But Inspector Steve Street, community safety inspector for the Hertsmere division, said there were some areas of the Hertsmere Community Safety Strategy that needed to be improved.

His assessment comes at the end of the first year of the plan which, introduced as a result of the Government's 1998 Crime and Disorder Act, sets out five aims to be reached in the borough over a three-year period.

These are: reducing social disorder and anti-social behaviour; improving road safety; establishing satisfactory reporting systems for offences like racial and hate crime, and domestic violence; cutting drug and alcohol abuse and addressing problems of youngsters misbehaving, partly by providing alternative entertainment.

These broad aims were drawn up after residents were surveyed on their safety concerns; and to meet them the strategy is divided into precise initiatives for particular places.

The scheme is based on numerous statutory and voluntary agencies working together as the Community Safety Partnership, including Hertsmere Borough Council, Hertfordshire police, Hertfordshire County Council, probation, social services and housing associations.

The partnership says successes in Borehamwood include: 98 per cent of Shenley Road businesses making use of a direct link to the CCTV control room at the Elstree Film and Television Studios, and security at retail park Boulevard 25's car park.

Insp Street said of the plan: 'If you go through the 63 initiatives, it has achieved, over achieved, achieved.'

But he added that there could be improvements in administration.

The strategy, which is open to modification, is due to be re-launched in the autumn.