COMMUNITY leaders have all got a part to play to reduce crime and the fear of crime.

That was the message at a special Ryedale community safety event held at Norton yesterday.

Brian Steele, from the Home Office burglary distraction unit, asked people what they were doing in their own communities to help vulnerable older people.

He said: "The criminals are looking out for them - are we trying to protect them?"

Mr Steele, a former detective chief superintendent with West Yorkshire Police, spent time interviewing prisoners convicted of distraction offences - professional criminals who prided themselves on their 'careers', he said.

He said: "Every one of these crimes is preventable, but we don't work as hard as the criminals to prevent them."

Mr Steele said there were three key things the whole community had to strive towards.

People had to be dissuaded from keeping large sums of money in their homes, and security chains and ID checks had to be carried out at the door.

"The most important thing is if we can get householders not to do business with cold callers to the door," he said.

"The community's policy should be we do not do business on the doorstep.

"If we can do these things we will end bogus offending.

"It's no good just raising awareness in the community without changing behaviour, that just raises the fear of crime."

Police are working with trading standards officers to reduce the number of distraction offences.

Videos will soon be available through the county council to educate older people about the risks of distraction offences.

Richard Flinton, of North Yorkshire trading standards, said: "We personally believe as a service that this is a major issue for a rural place like North Yorkshire and Ryedale."

Updated: 10:34 Thursday, April 03, 2003