Street crime has fallen by 16% in the country's worst hotspots since Tony Blair promised to bring it under control.

Robberies and snatch thefts were targeted in 10 police areas under a �67m Street Crime Initiative.

The prime minister pledged in April to get the problem under control by September, after robberies alone increased by a third last year.

Home Secretary David Blunkett announced the latest figures on Monday, which showed robberies down by 10% on last year.

Street crime: Up or down?

Met Police: -9% W Midlands: -30% W Yorkshire: -26% Gtr Manchester: -26% Merseyside: -26% Avon and Somerset: -21% S Yorkshire: +7% Nottinghamshire: -14% Thames Valley: -14% Lancashire: -20% *Figs for April to Sept 02

But South Yorkshire, where the home secretary lives, was the only one of the 10 forces to experience a rise in street crime - 7%.

The biggest reduction since April was in the West Midlands, which registered a 30% fall.

There were 26% reductions in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Yorkshire.

Mr Blunkett said: "Whichever way you look at these statistics, this has to be good news, both for the public and for the morale and commitment of all those working to achieve improvement and change.

"However, until the public feel safer and experience this reassuring change through their family and friends, statistics alone will not convince them."

This cannot be a quick fix

Rick Naylor Police Supts' Assoc

The extra funding included preventative work to target young people at risk of becoming involved in crime, truancy sweeps, video identity parades and drug treatment improvements.

The Crown Prosecution Service is also allocating specialist prosecutors and courts to street crime cases, which in several instances has resulted in offenders being sentenced within seven days.

The home secretary said the initiative had highlighted problems within the criminal justice system, which needed radical reform.

The Police Superintendents' Association welcomed the figures.

'No return'

Vice-president Chief Superintendent Rick Naylor said: "This cannot be a quick fix.

"We need to keep working on this issue so the conditions we saw at the start of this year on our streets do not return."

In London, street crime has fallen by 33% since January, a month before the Met Police launched their own Safer Streets initiative.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Tim Godwin said: "These crimes cause great anxiety for Londoners and we are determined not to take our eye off the ball."

Street crime in these figures covers robbery and snatch thefts.