The relationship between the perception of crime and the reality is difficult to assess. Is the level of crime really as bad as many people believe it to be? Or is life far less threatening and lawless than is generally assumed?

If the latter is the case, then are people staying away from the centres of Bradford and its surrounding towns unnecessarily, particularly in an evening, consequently undermining their commercial viability? A new co-ordinating group set up in the district believes that may well be the case and is to launch an initiative to counter what it considers to be a mistaken impression.

It is a move to be welcomed if it is able to clearly demonstrate that things are not as bad as many people believe them to be. Crimes do take place in Bradford and district, as they do anywhere. It is the job of the newspapers and other media to report them. Admittedly, this might increase some people's fears - just as the excellent BBC1 Crimewatch series, which has had some spectacular success in helping to solve crimes, has been accused of fuelling public anxiety.

The measures likely to be discussed by members of the co-ordinating group are said to include the need for extra CCTV cameras, and closer co-operation between the police, the Council and businesses. These are sensible proposals which suggest that this new partnership is set to do more than merely change the way people feel about the amount of crime. The welcome aim appears to be to make real inroads into the level of crime, too.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.