'Living here is better' CRIME: Bid to spread message.

Byline: Jane Tyler

POLICE and firefighters are on a mission to win the hearts and minds of people to convince them their area of Birmingham is now one of the city's safest places to live.

The Hall Green constituency has seen a massive drop in crime and the number of fires, but surveys have shown that these improvements have altered public confidence.

The area has 110,000 people and takes in Springfield, Hall Green, Moseley, Kings Heath and Sparkhill.

The Government has instructed all parliamentary constituencies to set up Local Delivery Groups to spread the message that life is improving.

Dave Burton, station commander of Billesley fire station, said: "People still have perceptions that they are not safe in their home, burglary is rife and anti-social behaviour is out of control. But the reality is different - the number of fires has gone down and so has crime and it has been for several years, but public perception is unchanged."

As well as police and fire, the public confidence group, which was set up three months ago, also has representatives from education, the environment agency, council officers, Neighbourhood Watch, street wardens and the Youth Service.

It has already set up an action plan, which includes putting more anti social behaviour responder vehicles on the road, introducing a new "mobile youth club" to go into areas where there is not much youth provision.

It is encouraging residents to let them know of any problems or issues they have in their neighbourhood.

They can do this at one of the many monthly Police and Communities Together groups across the wards.