REDDITCH MP Jacqui Smith met a top police officer last week to discuss a range of issues concerning crime and safety in Redditch.

Ms Smith talked about matters, including the use of Community Safety Officers (CSOs), new anti social behaviour orders, acceptable behaviour orders and dispersal orders with Chief Superintendent Mark Howard, North Worcestershire Division Commander.

She also asked for an assessment of overall crime in Redditch and what the police found most helpful in their fight to take on criminals.

Ms Smith said: "We discussed how more CSOs are coming to Redditch, how recent operations by our police had cut violent incidents and how improvements to the access of the Grove Street station were going.

"I was particularly pleased to note the success in tackling violent crime.

"Some people like to talk up the fear of crime when actually the evidence is you are now less likely to be a victim of crime than at any time in the last 20 years.

"While one crime is a crime too many, we should be pleased crimes like burglary have dropped by 42 per cent since 1997."

Ms Smith added: "My regular meetings with the police are very helpful.

"They are a chance for them to tell me what is going on in the area and for me to report to them what people are telling me in my surgeries and when I knock on their doors."