"As Governor, I want all New Hampshire citizens to feel safe in their homes and their communities. We must do everything we can to assist Manchester Police in addressing the growing concerns of citizens about violent crime in Manchester," Gov. Lynch said.

"I have tremendous respect for the brave men and women of law enforcement in Manchester who are out patrolling the streets day and night working to keep people safe. We all want make sure police officers the support they need to make the city a safer place for all its citizens. That's why I've spoken to Manchester law enforcement about how the state can most help their efforts," Gov. Lynch said.

Gov. Lynch met Monday with state officials, city officials and city law enforcement to discuss public safety in the city. Based on those discussion, Gov. Lynch said, he expects the city will be developing its own long-term crime strategy, an effort that the state will partner in, and looking at dedicating official resources to local enforcement.

"While those efforts get underway, Manchester and its citizens need additional help now. We will provide a surge of resources to assist local police officers in their dedicated efforts to safeguard the public," Gov. Lynch said.

1) The State will immediately contribute $132,000 in Department of Safety Streetsweeper funds to strengthen High Intensity / High Visibility patrols in Manchester. That money will provide for 450 additional overtime shifts for both Manchester police officers and New Hampshire state troopers to perform additional patrols on nights and weekends in high-crime areas.

2) The New Hampshire State Police will immediately dispatch four additional troopers to Manchester on a full-time basis for the next 45 days to reinforce stepped-up efforts to remove criminals from Manchester's streets.

3) New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte will station a Drug Enforcement Team in Manchester; and

4) The State's Bureau of Liquor Enforcement will create and dispatch its own high-intensity team of liquor enforcement officers to Manchester to target questionable establishments responsible for attracting criminal elements to the city.

"These intensive and high visibility law enforcement efforts will send a strong message to criminals that we are going to fight to protect all of our communities," Gov. Lynch said.

Gov. Lynch said that to reduce and prevent crime in the long term, state and local communities must also work together to address problems that lead to crime, including drug and alcohol abuse, illegal drugs and too many people dropping out of high school, he said.

In addition, Gov. Lynch said, "We must have tough laws and tough penalties for breaking them. That's why I've worked to put in tough new laws to protect children from sexual predators, and to crack down on crystal meth, a dangerously addictive drug that is one of the biggest new threats to our community.

"I have also asked the Attorney General to work with local law enforcement and prosecutors to review other state laws to see if they can be improved to support our efforts to deter criminals from coming to New Hampshire," Gov. Lynch said.

Gov. Lynch thanked Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, Safety Commissioner Richard Flynn, and Eddie Edwards, chief of enforcement for the Liquor Commission, for their efforts.