REDDITCH is one of the safest places to live in the UK.

The good news was announced on Monday at the launch of a three-year action plan to reduce crime and disorder across the town.

The community safety partnership, which includes police, Redditch Council and the fire service, launched its second strategy highlighting drugs and alcohol as priority areas.

The move followed an audit of crime trends during the last three years and extensive community consultations, assessing people's perception of crime.

Violence, community involvement, the town centre and property crime have also been listed as priority areas.

Chief Supt Patsy Lord, of Redditch police, said the partnership was accountable and urged people to judge it on its delivery of the action plan.

In the last three years, the partnership has installed CCTV cameras in the town centre and established youth workers in areas where anti-social behaviour is a concern.

It has also developed a way of dealing with abandoned cars, extended holiday activity schemes and provided £40,000 funding to community groups.

The partnership has also been given more than £200,000 over three years from the Government's Community Against Drugs initiative.