ANTI-social behaviour and violent crime in Wyre Forest are to be tackled in a new three-year crime-busting initiative launched today.

Drug and alcohol use and fear of crime are also being targeted by the Community Safety Strategy drawn up by Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership following an extensive survey of residents.

Crime statistics have also been taken into account by the group, which has been set a Government target to reduce crime by 18 per cent between 2005 and 2008.

Launching the initiative today, partnership chairman, Tom Currie, was keen to stress, however, that crime rates were already "relatively low" in the district.

He described it as a "really safe place to live, work, visit and do business in" and said the new strategy would help keep it that way.

He added: "There are some crimes which need attention and we're actively tackling people's perception of crime.

"Achievements in these areas are only possible by working effectively in partnership with others.

"We are intending to achieve these targets within the lifetime strategy."

Fellow partnership member, Chief Insp Dave Jones, of West Mercia Constabulary, said a variety of measures could be used to achieve the target of reducing anti-social behaviour.

They included anti-social behaviour orders for individuals and dispersal orders to break up groups of more than two youths acting in an anti-social manner.

"Crime figures are falling and detection rates are rising in the district but we are not complacent and we are continually looking to improve our performance," he added.

Last year, there were more than 1,000 fewer victims of crime in the district, with vehicle crime plummeting by 17 per cent and violent crime by 16 per cent, and the partnership intended to build on that.

The partnership is made up of public, private, voluntary and community sector bodies, including the district's primary care trust and Neighbourhood Watch, and has helped to support several initiatives over the past three years.

These have included the installation of CCTV cameras in 30 taxis and the funding of the latest property marking equipment.

It has also taken a health campaign to schools, encouraging children to explore issues such as healthy eating and hygiene.