CRIME has fallen by more than a third in less than six months in part of York, after a special scheme was set up to tackle the problem.

Following the launch of a dispersal zone in Huntington and New Earswick on April 1, crime fell by 37 per cent, compared to the same period last year.

A similar scheme in Heworth saw a crime reduction of 18 per cent.

Police and councillors today welcomed the results.

Carol Runciman, councillor for Huntington and New Earswick, said: "I am getting a lot fewer people ringing me up now.

"I am not saying there are no problems, but there are fewer than there used to be."

Local officer PC Paul Beckwith said: "Overall, the fact is that we have seen a reduction in recorded crime, and that has to be a good thing overall." The dispersal zones, established under the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003, were set up in a bid to curb problems in the areas.

Under the schemes, police have the power to order groups of people whose behaviour could be deemed menacing to move on.

PC Beckwith said the figures only took account of recorded crimes, rather than all instances of antisocial behaviour, but welcomed the reduction.

Coun Runciman said police had been more visible in Huntington and New Earswick since the zone was set up. A research project is currently being conducted by Christopher Carney, of the University of Leeds's department of criminal justice, and Coun Runciman said she thought that too was helping deter criminals.

Earlier this year, The Press reported the escalation of problems at the Orchard Park Community Centre in Badger Paddock, Huntington, but chairman Derrick Atlay today agreed that problems had reduced over the summer.

He said: "It's getting slightly better. There has not been any vandalism as such.

There are still people hanging around and causing a bit of a disturbance, but the police are working with us now."

Mr Atlay agreed with Coun Runciman that police had been more visible in the area since the dispersal zone had been set up.