STILL on the crime scene...when John Major decides to call a General Election, there's no doubt that one of the main campaign issues will be the war on crime and making our streets safer places for young and old. Two stories in this week's BEN sum up the present situation. The first report told how more than 1,300 Blackrod residents had petitioned for more bobbies on the beat to deter crime and also disturbances by gangs of youths. The second story highlighted the14-year-old responsible for 300 crimes.

More community policing will be welcomed by all except the wrongdoers. But steering young folk in the right direction and harnessing their undoubted talent and enthusiasm needs equally urgents efforts at local and national level.

Giving them a sense of purpose and positive outlook on life will be every bit as important as extra policing if we are to create the sort of responsible and caring society Britain needs as it moves into the 21st Century.

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