COUNCIL chiefs in Trafford are teaming up with police to crack even more car crime.

The latest figures show that vehicle offences account for a third of all reported crime throughout the borough.

But with the help of a five-way partnership between health and probation services as well as the council and police authority - the aim is to reduce this figure by a quarter over the next three years.

The recent Crime and Disorder Audit identified a number of 'hot spots' for car crime and intelligence indicates that the crime in these areas is committed by offenders coming into the area.

As the strategies planned come into operation, vulnerable areas will be identified and customised security measures will be put in place such as bringing car parks throughout the borough up to Gold Standard and improving .street lighting and roads.

Cabinet member for community safety and human resources Cllr Barry Brotherton is jointly responsible for the council's part in the objectives along with colleague Cllr Len Murkin, who is the cabinet member for technical services and transport.

Cllr Brotherton told SAM: "With the figures showing that 30 per cent of crime is car-related, it is important that we put measures in place to ease the minds of the driving public throughout Trafford.

"The plan is to bring all major car parks up to the AA Gold standard for safety and this has already been put into motion with a bid for government money to put CCTV cameras into two car parks in Urmston town centre."

The partners also hope to enlist the help of the private sector to fund schemes, an approach which has already shown its worth in Partington and around the car parks near to Old Trafford football ground with the help of money from Manchester United.

Cllr Brotherton went on: "With the help of campaigns like Car Watch we can get the message across to motorists.

"Publicising various crime prevention schemes and advising people of various ways in which they can help themselves is all helping to reduce car crime and we want to reduce it even further - hopefully by 25 per cent by April 2002."

Will your car stereo be next?

POLICE are warning drivers to ensure that their car stereo systems are secured against opportunist thieves after a spate of incidents where high value systems have been taken.

Those with CD players are the most common target and officers say that it is very important to deter these thieves by removing the front panel of the equipment whenever you leave the vehicle.

Community safety officer at Altrincham police, PC Tony Crompton told SAM: "Most of the pre-fitted audio systems will have documentation within your new vehicle paperwork giving the serial numbers - if you have the equipment fitted yourself you should also etch or UV mark your post code and house number on the equipment before it is fitted.

"Some of the newer audio equipment is disguised to appear like they are either not there at all or are of the more basic type of radio/cassette - this is a good idea, but don't forget to keep your CDs out of sight or the thieves will soon work that there must be one fitted somewhere."

IN THE DOCK

Nicholas Michael Whelan, 21, of Glebelands Road, Sale has been charged with causing damage to a police vehicle and appears at Trafford Magistrates Court on August 31.

Mark Andrew Marfleet, 20, of Sparkford Avenue, Northern Moor has been charged with taking a vehicle without the owner's consent and without insurance and appears at Trafford Magistrates Court on September 3.

Mohammed Iltaf Abasi, 59, of Seymour Grove, Old Trafford has been charged with causing damage to a Ford Mondeo and appears at Trafford Magistrates Court on September 13.

Steven Quentin Ridings, 44, of Raven Court, Dudley Close, Old Trafford has been charged with disqualified driving, driving without insurance and taking a Vauxhall Frontera without the owner's consent and appears at Trafford Magistrates Court on August 27.

There have been 9 other people charged with vehicle related offences this week who for legal reasons cannot be named.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.