COMMUNITY support and partnership are the keys to cracking crime - as every household in Avon and Somerset will soon be told.

The Chief Constable Steve Pilkington's annual report is entitled Partnership With People and was being delivered door-to-door throughout the force area from this week.

Mr Pilkington stressed the force's commitment towards taking action against street crime and cracking down against the drugs menace. But he said in the report that the support of every law-abiding resident was vital in the fight against crime.

"During the past year I have awarded commendations to 63 members of the public for their outstanding contributions in support of law and order," he said.

"They are the tip of the iceberg of community support for the constabulary and we need that support and understanding more than at any time previously if we are to return to reducing levels of crime as in previous years."

Some 650,000 copies of the full-colour, 16-page, annual report are being distributed door-to-door and readers will be encouraged to provide their views on a range of subjects including the force website, criminal justice and crime reduction measures.