A CAMPAIGN to inspire people to take pride in their Suffolk town and keep it one of the safest places in the county is being launched this week.The Hadleigh – Our Town initiative will encourage people to be responsible for their town as well as celebrate its successes, including a reduction in criminal damage, arson and anti-social behaviour.

A CAMPAIGN to inspire people to take pride in their Suffolk town and keep it one of the safest places in the county is being launched this week.

The Hadleigh - Our Town initiative will encourage people to be responsible for their town as well as celebrate its successes, including a reduction in criminal damage, arson and anti-social behaviour.

The Babergh Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) is launching the campaign at Hadleigh High School today .

And it is already gaining a high profile in the town as a specially-designed black and gold logo appears on carrier bags, stickers, beer mats and balloons.

More than 150 Year Seven students will take part in six citizenship activities run by the organisations supporting the scheme, with each of the sessions based on the campaign's four words summing up Hadleigh's attributes: "Successful, sharing, special and safe".

Town councillor Jan Byrne , who sits on the working party for criminal and arson damage that came up with the campaign idea, will run a photo quiz on why Hadleigh is so special.

Yesterday , she said: "Hadleigh only has a low crime level as people take a care in the town and are interested in the town and if you do not nurture that the crime level will increase."

Inspector Lincoln Pratt , Hadleigh sector commander, said: "Much work is going on to address the needs of young people in the town and I believe if the local community can properly embrace its young people we will have a community that is at one with itself."

Since April last year criminal damage has reduced by 27%, arson by 72% and violence by 34%, with crime in Hadleigh decreasing by 29% overall.

PC Stuart Colbear added: "We are very encouraged by the crime levels but it is important that we do not become complacent."

In its bid to make Suffolk the safest county in England, a new community police officer, PC Vince Grimsey, has been appointed to the town. Along with crime reduction officer Les King he will talk to the students at the launch about helping the police to tackle crime.

Denise Flack, a community fire safety officer in Suffolk, will also stage a 10-minute scenario on hoax calls and arson.

Tim Mutum and Suzanne Bulmer, from Babergh District Council, will highlight the role of CCTV and other council initiatives in helping to reduce crime and reassure the public.

Julia Catterwell , community development officer for CDRP, has been surveying young people to gather their views on what could be done to improve the town.

She said the data would be analysed so she can work out how to spend the £15,000 allocated for improving the town for youngsters.