IT is a report which we have long wanted, and it is as detailed and damning as we believed it would be. But the newly published Bolton Crime and Disorder Audit Report is designed to find new ways to cut the crime figures.

The report gives a beat by beat analysis of the town, identifying six black-spot zones which "merit increased attention". It may not give the residents of Great Lever, Manchester Road, Burnden, Farnworth town centre, Farnworth Park, Dixon Green and Halliwell pleasure to know that their areas have the worst crime rates.

But identifying the areas at risk, and the main crimes committed there, is a positive step towards curing the causes.

It is bound to worry many Bolton residents that there is a rapid increase in reports of violence in the home. In fact, the town is the domestic violence "capital" of Greater Manchester. We also have a higher than average rate of burglaries.

But, knowing your enemy is always the first rule of successful combat. And fighting crime is no different.

This comprehensive and telling report - compiled with information from a variety of relevant agencies and bodies - is the stepping-stone to a safer community.

And we back its call for everyone to play a part in tackling the twin cancers of crime and disorder in our community.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.