Crime rates across Sussex's most deprived areas are falling thanks to the Government's New Deal for Communities initiative.

Crime in the New Deal area of East Brighton fell by 13 per cent and there was a 22.4 per cent reduction in car crime between the first and second halves of 2001, figures released yesterday reveal.

The New Deal for Communities initiative is a Government scheme to rebuild communities across Britain which were identified as deprived, giving some of the poorest neighbourhoods the resources to tackle their problems in an intensive and co-ordinated way.

The aim is to bridge the gap between these neighbourhoods and the rest of the UK.

East Brighton was identified as deprived and is into its third year of a ten-year New Deal scheme to pump £47.2 million into the area.

More than 100 community schemes have already been funded by New Deal, from crime prevention initiatives to community transport.

The initiative has funded a police sergeant's post for East Brighton, contributed funds for CCTV in Whitehawk and has put up funds for cameras in Moulsecoomb and other crime-fighting initiatives in the areas.

Chief Superintendent Doug Rattray, of Brighton and Hove division, said: "New Deal for Communities is about involving communities in multi-agency work and by involving communities this has lead to a dramatic decrease in crime.

"This is due to the work not only of the police officers working in the New Deal for Communities area but also the residents."

Regeneration minister Sally Keeble told the House of Commons yesterday: "Tackling crime is critical to successful regeneration and New Deals meet that challenge.

"Already we are seeing positive results. Targeted initiatives such as extra police, wardens and CCTV are beginning to make an impact.

"Incidents of crime are falling but so is the fear of crime. Once no-go areas have now been returned to residents. The key to this success is empowering and listening to the needs of local people.

"Community-based regeneration is the only way forward. We must build on this positive start and drive forward real long-term change in our most deprived neighbourhoods."

Home Office minister John Denham said: "Fighting crime is an essential part of regenerating Britain's most deprived communities. We will continue to work with local people, the police and other local partners to help them rid their communities of crime."