LATEST crime figures for Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley show that targets are being met or exceeded to beat burglary, vehicle crime, transport safety, drugs and alcohol, town centre safety and anti-social behaviour.

The statistics from Wigan and Leigh Community Safety Partnership show that in the national league table of crimes in the key areas of domestic burglary, vehicle crime and robbery, the borough is getting safer.

Minor woundings are up 32.2 per cent and criminal damage 10.8 per cent . Juvenile nuisance and domestic disputes have also risen.

From 306th place out of 376 partnerships across the country in 2001/02, Wigan has jumped 22 places to 284 -- the 59th best performance in the country for 2002/03 and well below the Greater Manchester rate.

Compared to the same period, April to September, for the previous year, theft from vehicles, burglaries, theft from persons, robbery and major woundings have all dropped significantly.

However, Leigh Councillor Keith Cunliffe, Wigan MBC cabinet member for community safety, said: "We are heading in the right direction, but there is certainly no room for complacency.

"The police and our other partners know what the priorities are, and what is expected of us. We are determined to crack crime."

The Community Safety Partnership's priorities are burglary, vehicle crime, anti-social behaviour, domestic violence, community involvement/participation, race, gender and sexuality hate crime, town centre safety, transport safety, drugs and alcohol.