The Lowestoft Journal's Crimebuster campaign has been praised by a Home Office minister during a speech in the House of Commons.

Vernon Coaker hailed a recent multi-agency blitz on the Roman Hill area of Lowestoft and commended the Archant newspaper for assisting the police with its regular crime initiative page.

Waveney MP Bob Blizzard told the Home Office minister that a recent Crimebusters page in the Lowestoft Journal had shown that there were no burglaries in Lowestoft the previous week, and also spoke of how the problem of criminal damage was being tackled.

In reply, Vernon Coaker spoke of "the excellent work of the Lowestoft Journal and its Crimebusters page, which seems to be having a dramatic effect on Lowestoft".

Established more than two years ago, the Crimebusters feature highlights hotspots in the town, which have come onto the police radar.

Teaming up with Suffolk Police and the Lowestoft Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, The Journal's weekly crime page is aimed at making Lowestoft a safer place as car crime, burglaries and criminal damage incidents are all listed on a map of the town.

Waveney district commander, Chief Inspector Paul Bradford said: "I was pleased to see the comments of Mr Blizzard concerning the work of The Journal in developing the Crimebusters page, which is invaluable in letting members of the public know what is happening in the town.

"The format is excellent and identifies for residents the main crime trends affecting the area."

Journal editor Russell Cook said: "Our Crimebusters initiative is crucial in helping police and identifying hot spots in the town which in turn gives our readers the chance to help act as crime fighters."