A NEW crime prevention scheme launched on Bretch Hill, Banbury, in May is being extended to other areas of the town.

Neighbourhood Management, which sees the police working with residents and other groups to tackle local issues, is to operate in the town centre, Cherwell Heights, Grimsbury, and Easington.

Police say the scheme will give each area a tailor-made service to help residents feel safer.

A police spokesman said the new scheme would concentrate on priorities highlighted by local people.

She said: "Under the scheme, Thames Valley Police will provide officers dedicated to each area. People will be able to work with them to tackle the issues that worry them most."

A series of public meetings will enable members of the public to air their concerns, and more than 800 questionnaires will be handed out. The papers will ask residents to list the problems they think need urgent attention.

Working groups, consisting of residents, councillors, landlords, and police, will be formed in each area to collect and pass on the worries of local people.

Insp Neville Clayton, who is responsible for the Banbury scheme, said: "I hope there will be lively contributions at the public meetings, and that we will identify what the residents want tackled.

"This is a partnership effort because the police might not always be the best people to deal with an issue. Local councils, landlords, or health services might be more suitable for some matters, but by working together we can make people feel safer and more secure.

"Neighbourhood management will only work if communities are willing to get involved. This could be as simple as completing the questionnaires and attending the public meetings. Other people might want to join the working groups."

The Bretch Hill scheme has been hailed a success after information from the public led to a series of drugs raids.

In one raid in July, at flats on Bretch Hill, a 22-year-old woman was detained, and in August a 27-year-old man was arrested after police searched a house in Cromwell Road.

The raids came after police received tip-offs from local people as part of the new initiative.

Sgt Rory Freeman, leader of the Bretch Hill neighbourhood team, said: "The drugs raids show the scheme is working."