EXTRA money to fight crime is on its way to Kent. More than £450,000 of Government cash is going to all crime reduction partnerships in the county.

The grants, just announced, will be used to increase policing in crime hotspots, target persistent offenders and work with young people to reduce anti-social behaviour. The partnerships are set up by bodies such as the police, local authorities, Neighbourhood Watch schemes and Kent County Council.

A Kent police spokesman said: "We welcome any new money that will enable us to devote even more resources to the area."

But he added it was too early to say on what specific projects the money would be spent.

Crime Reduction Minister, John Denham said: "Partnerships can plan on the basis that they will receive at least the same funding again in 2003 to 2004, with the likelihood that more funding will be available in subsequent years."

The largest chunk of funding will go to the Medway towns, which received the third-highest grant in the south east, of £76,248.

Other areas benefiting from the Home Office's £20million Safer Communities Initiative across England and Wales are Maidstone (£41,546); Swale (£38,925); Thanet (£38,714); Dartford (£36,297); and Canterbury (£35,868).

Ashford, Dover and Shepway each received about £32,000, while Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells both received more than £28,000.