CRAVEN'S new police commander reported a general reduction in reported crime and anti-social behaviour spread over the whole of last year.

Chief Inspector Nick Hunter said incidents, up to April, were down, but since then, there had been a couple of "blips".

He told the Craven District Council's crime and disorder committee there had been a rise in shoplifting incidents and vehicle crime, but he believed they were now under control.

Last month, the town's inspector, Geoff Crocker, revealed a tough approach to visiting shoplifters following 39 reported incidents in the town since the beginning of April, compared to 25 the year before.

Ch Insp Hunter also pointed out that when figures were generally so low, any rise was seen as significant.

He also discussed speeding motorcycles and an increase in the number of serious accidents involving pedal cycles - which he suggested could be to do with an increase in cyclists on the roads.

"We are seeing an increase in the number of persons injured on cycles, and in reality, it has become a big, almost national sport," he said.

In order to address the issue, the police were talking to groups and clubs about being safer on the roads.

Speeding motorcyclists were being tackled in a number of ways, including the use of covert officers on unmarked police motorcycles, he said.

He also reported an increase in the number of speed detection vans and how there had been a fall in serious or fatal accidents in areas where they were used.

The vans also picked up drivers using mobile phones while driving, or driving without seatbelts.