POLICE beats in Bury are to be reshuffled in a bid to make the streets safer and reduce people's fear of crime.

A new project is being launched on Friday (7) called Bury Safe, aimed at improving the quality of life for people living and working in the borough.

As part of the initiative, the local police have restructured their beats to put policing back into the heart of communities.

There will now be six Area Policing Teams covering Radcliffe, East and West Bury, Ramsbottom/Tottington, Whitefield and Prestwich.

Chief Superintendent Janette McCormick, Divisional Commander for Bury, said: "In recent years, by working with the local authority and other organisations, we have driven down crime across the borough.

"Bury Safe is the next step to helping to ensure that this success continues by creating area based policing teams and public services to deal with those crimes and issues that really affect the quality of life for local people, such as graffiti and anti-social behaviour."

Bury Safe is a multi-agency initiative involving organisations such as Greater Manchester Police, Bury Council, Greater Manchester Fire Service, the Primary Care Trust and Victim Support.

The project is formally being launched on Friday 7th at the Bolholt Hotel, Walshaw.