'One in five' victim of crime

Almost one in five people in Coventry was a victim of crime in the last year, according to a new survey.

The research, conducted for the West Midlands Police Authority, found that more people in the city had been affected by crime than anywhere else in the region.

About 35% of people in Coventry had contact with the police in the last year and 20% had been a victim of crime - the highest figure in the West Midlands.

The chairman of the West Midlands Police Authority, Councillor Nazir Mohammed, said the results of the survey would be shared with the police and local authorities in order to tackle the issues raised.

Nearly half of all those questioned said relations between the community and the police were good, although they wanted police to focus more on vandalism and the problem of youths who cause trouble.

People surveyed also said they would like to see more police officers on housing estates, in shopping centres and outside pubs and nightclubs at closing time.