A DRAMATIC fall in crime rates has earned a Wyre Forest group recognition for its hard work and commitment in tackling the issue.

Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership - WFCSP - has been commended by central Government after figures revealed a 25.7 per cent drop in overall crime during 2005/06, compared with two years earlier.

Types of crime covered by the statistics include domestic burglary and common assault, for which there is expected to be a reduction of 62 per cent by the end of 2006.

Alison Braithwaite is chairman of the WFCSP - a partnership group made up of representatives of public, private, voluntary and community sector organisations, united in their aim to cut crime.

She said: "We are proud of these figures as they reflect the hard work and commitment from all members of this partnership. We are working to a three-year strategy, which concludes in 2008.

"Our performance is very positive in most crime areas, especially common assault, where there is a projected reduction of 62 per cent by the end of 2006.

"Over the last year, we have focused on setting up a community safety tasking group, which involves representatives of partner organisations who are able to directly or indirectly deploy resources. "

Insp Paul Crowley said :"The crime reduction is evidence of what can be achieved when organisations work together."

Chairman of the town centre partnership, Peter Picken, added: "It's always good news to hear crime figures are dropping but our sympathies are always with the victims of crime. We must do all we can to reduce this figure still. I very much hope this trend continues."