Law and order. (Whatever Happened to Hollywood?).

RISING crime isn't afflicting all parts of L.A. Stepped-up patrols in Hollywood are being credited with reducing crime by 6 percent.

Last year, there were 2,117 reported incidents of violent crimes--defined as murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and auto theft--down from 2,253 the year before. (The Hollywood division covers 17 square miles of territory, has 300,000 residents and draws 10 million tourists annually.) In all of Los Angeles, the LAPD received 38,307 reports of violent crimes in 2002, a 1 percent hike over 2001.

When you have people around, it gives you a sense of safety," LAPD Hollywood Police Capt. Michael Downing said about the increase in number of visitors since the Hollywood & Highland project opened in late 2001. "But it also creates a target-rich environment So we have to make sure we provide services that create a safe environment."

Downing's priorities were the areas between Cahuenga Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, as well as Franklin Avenue south to Sunset Boulevard.

Separate task forces have been formed using undercover foot patrol and rooftop surveillance to target a wide range of crimes, including gang violence, drug dealing, car thefts and prostitution. "We made more arrests than any division in the city," said Downing.

Last month, police received help from the L.A. City Council, which passed a citywide ordinance allowing police to permanently seize vehicles of people soliciting prostitutes.

Police also are aided by the 210-member Hollywood Entertainment District Property Owners Association, which spent half of its $2.2 million annual budget last year on patrols for the Hollywood & Highland area.

The association is trying to get more shelters and referral services to reduce the number of homeless along the boulevard. Security patrols hand out as many as 65 referral cards per day, directing youth runaways and adult homeless individuals to shelters and service organizations within the neighborhood and additional shelters are being planned by these organizations, Morrison said. "It's a visible problem in Hollywood," she said. "It's not a public safety issue but it does not add to the perception of safety."

Mayor James Hahn has proposed that $400,000 from the city's Housing and Urban Development community development block grant money be used to open a 24-hour homeless shelter in Hollywood for one year. The shelter would have 40 beds and provide homeless with three meals a day and referral services.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on the recommendation early next month, according to Beatrice Hsu, legislative deputy to Councilman Eric Garcetti.

Local shop owners and managers say the neighborhood seems safer than it was before revitalization began, but problems remain.

"Violent crimes have gone down," said Gil Gold, manager of Hollywood Souvenirs. "So maybe people are not scared to walk around at night as much as they used to be before. But there are still drug dealers on every corner. It brings drug addicts who come and buy, drive around. That scares the tourists."