A newspaper that has set up its own website to fight crime has been praised by the police for its growing role to boost public awareness.

The Home Office revealed that Avon and Somerset was one of five police forces in the country to report a fall in the robbery rate compared to last year.

In welcoming the figures the force's assistant chief constable, Steve Otter, highlighted the role of the Bristol Evening Post in tackling the problem.

Since the paper launched its Save Our Streets campaign in September it has sold 650 personal safety alarms, distributed posters across the city, launched its own website, linked up with a local radio station and started distributing 10,000 fliers to readers urging them to record the security number of their mobile phone.

Assistant Chief Constable Otter said: "Save Our Streets has been very important in helping people see what work is going on to tackle street crime.

"The campaign has also done an excellent job in providing people with information on how they can reduce the chances of becoming a victim."

The importance of the initiative was highlighted last week when chef Liam Attwell, (25), was stabbed to death when he tried to intervene in a robbery in the centre of Bristol.

The Evening Post's current affairs editor Chris Maguire, who is co-ordinating Save Our Streets, said: "The early results are excellent but Liam's death highlights why the campaign is needed."

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