The government is today given a mixed report on its £225 million drive to reduce street crime.

A report by the chief inspector of constabulary said that it would be "wholly misleading" to claim that a target for drug-addicted offenders to receive treatment within 24 hours of release from custody had been met.

Forum Response: Help the Aged

A spokesman for Help the Aged told ePolitix.com: "For older people, the fear of crime can have a ruinous effect on quality of life and contributes greatly to social exclusion. The fact that there is a large disparity between older people's fear of crime and the risk of them actually becoming victims should not distract us from this.

"What we hear from older people is quite straightforward - they want more policemen on the beat. A visible and active police presence in a neighbourhood will have the effect of reducing crime - as demonstrated by the inspectorate's report - which in turn can reduce the fear of crime that blights the lives of many of our older citizens.

"Coupled with urban regeneration projects to combat graffiti, reduce litter and improve the environment through proper and timely maintenance of services like street lighting, effective policing can genuinely contribute to older people feeling better about where they live."

Forum Response: British Retail Consortium

A spokesman for the British Retail Consortium told ePolitix.com: "Retail crime is a symptom of street crime. Retail crime is one of the main sources of money to fund a drug habit and a gateway to crime for many young people.

"Last year there were 36 incidents of physical violence against staff per 100 shops, the majority of which were attributed to drug users and to a lesser extent alcohol abuse. An addict needs to steal between £20,000 and £40,000 worth of goods in a year to fund a habit.Retailers have consistently campaigned for the government to recognise that a crime against shop staff is a crime against the community, and yet it is a low priority for government and therefore not a key issue for the police.

"The government needs to support retailers in tackling crime as part of a sustained, long-term strategy of rehabilitation will we have safer streets and safer shopping centres."