CANTERBURY'S office and retail trading community have set up a state-of-the-art computerised early warning system to fight the city's crime wave.

The new communication network enables managers to flash reports of theft, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage to business colleagues all over the city.

The initiative has been launched by Canterbury's 100-strong Chamber of Commerce and is aimed at combating the mounting catalogue of crime and anti-social behaviour in the city centre.

Peter Hawkes, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, said: "This initiative has been introduced with full police co-operation. It means we can flash messages at a moment's notice. There is a daily update of information and we have a far better understanding of what is happening in our business community."

City centre traders have been a regular target for thieves over the years. But business managers in Canterbury have noticed an upturn in crime affecting their sector over the past year.

Mr Hawkes said: "I have known complaints of vehicles being vandalised in private office car parks. The anti-social behaviour affecting us is often drug-related. Some of the things we are seeing are unprintable. Some businesses have had to increase insurance protection.

"Much of the anti-social behaviour is performed by youngsters. We would welcome a greater police presence in Canterbury city centre to act as a deterrent but the new warning system should help."

The Chamber's security operation supports an ongoing Kentish Gazette campaign to spotlight anti-social behaviour disrupting the city centre. The newspaper launched an anti-yob campaign in January and since then police have stepped up city centre patrols and officers' shift patterns have been changed to maintain late-night vigilance in Canterbury.

In June, the Kentish Gazette delivered its crime dossier to Whitehall. Home Office Minister Hazel Blears praised the campaign and promised a crackdown on yob culture.