AREAS of Snodland have been identified as crime hot spots in a crime and disorder audit which also reveals that Tonbridge and Malling borough as a whole has relatively low levels of crime.

The report by the Tonbridge and Malling Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership says specific areas of the Snodland East ward will need to be targeted by the partnership, whose lead agencies are Kent Police and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.

The area was singled out as suffering from a high proportion of crime in the borough together with central areas of Tonbridge.

The report says: "Snodland East has consistently experienced levels of crime above both the borough and county averages over the last three years."

But the report says crime figures across the borough over the last three years are lower than in other boroughs.

Insp Mark Chambers, Maidstone and Malling police's crime reduction co-ordinator, said burglaries, criminal damage and thefts from cars were the most prevalent crimes in Snodland.

He said: "There are a number of criminally active people who reside within the Snodland area, predominantly Snodland East. That's not to say it's significantly different from any other estate across the Maidstone and Malling area."

Insp Chambers said: "The criminal population of Snodland East is still a small minority of the community." He added: "We set ourselves an ambitious target to try and reduce all crime by 15 per cent over the last three years and we haven't achieved that yet, but we've certainly got a reduction in crime."

Reported crime in the ward reached a high point in 1999, with 491 cases, dropping to 431 last year. Snodland West experienced about half the level of crime of its neighbouring ward, according to the audit.

David Williams, the partnership's crime reduction co-ordinator working for the borough council, said joint efforts by the council, Kent Police, Tonbridge and Malling Housing Association and Holmesdale Technology College were improving an area notorious for crime, Saltings Road estate.

He said: "In November, we managed to get two anti-social behaviour orders on two local youths, that's had a tremendous effect on other youths in the area and that meant reported crime in December and January was down 50 per cent on the previous year."

He added: "It just shows you what sort of an effect a small number of youths can have on an area. What was considered to be a grim area, we're in the process of turning it round. I'd invite people to take a drive around the estate, it is now a pleasant place."