by Crime Correspondent SOPHIE KIRKHAM

Harrow is a safe place in which to live, according to 80 per cent of respondants to a recent survey carried out by Harrow Council.

More than 800 questionnaires were sent out to members of the borough's residents' panel in December, with nearly half the recipients responding.

A disappointing response from black and Asian residents -- less than eight per cent of replies relative to 30 per cent of residents -- was put down by a council spokesman to the low level of racial crime in Harrow.

But Harrow Council for Racial Equality could not disagree more. Its chairman, Asoke Dutta, said: "Whoever said that wants to look at the police statistics revealed in December which showed an alarming rate of racial harassment.

"There could be a number of reasons for the poor response, but it was certainly not because of the low level of racial harassment."

Other responses to the survey showed that people felt the most important issue for police to tackle was discouraging criminal behaviour in young people. They were also concerned about burglaries and drug related offences.

Harrow police's borough liaison officer, Inspector Ian Cresswell, said: "The message from the consultation is that although our borough is relatively safe, we need to make sure that it stays that way."

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