AN ambitious plan to cut crime in Redditch by 17.5 per cent in three years has been announced by the Community Safety Partnership amid political squabbling over whether crime has fallen or not.

This week, a Community Safety Strategy controversially stated that in the last three years, "overall crime in Redditch has increased".

But it did say there was difficulty in making accurate year-on-year comparisons following new methods of recording and warned the fear of crime was out of kilter with the facts.

The heated debate over whether crime had risen in real terms sparked a row between the political parties, with Labour accusing the Conservatives of misleading voters with press adverts stating violent crime had risen.

The new report details a 2004 audit which states that from 2001-2003, Redditch had higher than average recorded offences per 1,000 people compared to the national average, at nearly 120 per 1,000 people.

From 2001-2003, criminal damage accounted for a fifth of recorded crime in the town and assault and vehicle crime for 15 per cent each.

The report said: "The only crime type to fall over the last three years (2001-2003) was racially aggravated offences, where the numbers recorded decreased by 86 (58.5 per cent decrease)."

Also highlighted was crime committed as a result of alcohol misuse.

In 2002 and 2003 there were 2,087 alcohol-related offences in Redditch and 1,286 people were charged.

The report said alcohol-related assaults had increased.

The partnership's strategies in the next few years will focus on improving the town environment, tackling drugs and alcohol misuse and investment for the young.

The partnership consists of the police, borough and county councils, the fire authority and Primary Care Trust.