A POLICE project to combat burglary in the Park district of Weymouth has been hugely successful.

Inspector Paul Gillott, of Weymouth Police, said the scheme was launched after burglaries and car crime reached an all-time high with 68 dwelling burglaries, 34 non-dwelling burglaries and 126 vehicle crimes.

He said the area of narrow streets with numerous alleyways had seen acquisitive crime and drug dealing gradually increase with research showing that the majority of offences in the area were committed by people living in Park District multiple-occupancy housing.

It was a different story now thanks to the project and he said he was delighted.

Figures showed that burglaries had been cut by 68 per cent, non-dwelling burglaries by 47 per cent and vehicle crime by 59 per cent. Insp Gillott added: "This project has proved tremendously successful and has resulted in a steady decline of all burglary and vehicle crime. We must strive to maintain and, if possible, improve on this.

"The low levels have now been maintained for three years and, while finance for the project has ceased, the area has improved to an extent where it is hoped that the momentum can be maintained."

Insp Gillott said it was a community effort and he praised work by the council, residents and landlords and by organisations such as Age Concern and the Crime Prevention Panel for improving the quality of the Park district and Lodmoor by raising their profile.

He added: "Every person who puts out a hanging basket, every landlord who improves their property and every person who reports anything suspicious to the police all help to make the environment a more pleasant place to live and drive out the criminals."