COMMUNITY groups throughout Glasgow were yesterday urged to become

involved in the fight against drugs, violence, and theft as the first

major sponsor of a campaign to tackle the problems in the city was

announced.

Lord Provost Robert Innes announced that Strathclyde Buses --

Scotland's biggest bus group and the largest bus operator outside London

-- had agreed to sponsor an initiative as part of the Glasgow's Alive

and Safe campaign.

The campaign, which seeks to co-ordinate, communicate, and encourage

co-operation on safety issues, was launched last November at a time when

public attention was firmly focused on a spate of drugs and violence

related incidents in the city.

The bus group will sponsor a community challenge scheme by carrying

the Glasgow's Alive and Safe campaign message free in its 800-strong

fleet of vehicles.

The scheme challenges community groups to become actively involved in

all aspects of safety in their area.

The bus group will award #1000 of its services in kind to the

community which puts forward the most innovative safety proposal.

The Lord Provost welcomed the bus group's involvement, which he said

would ''provide the right incentive'' to make inroads into the problems

of safety.

Before the campaign launch, Strathclyde police figures showed serious

assaults in the city had increased by more than 10% during the previous

12 months. During the same period, the use of offensive weapons had

increased by 18%.

However, the latest statistics released by Strathclyde police last

month show that serious crime in the city during the first few months of

the year was at its lowest level for 30 years.