IF ever there was a spot of stereotype reinforcement it is the latest fuss about BBC staff moving up to Salford.

The corporation has apparently now warned its staff about personal safety and offered security guards to escort them to their cars and tram stops from the studios at Media City at Salford Quays.

Over the past year there have been a couple of incidents and thefts, but the “Let’s Bash Salford” campaign stepped up a notch when Five Live presenter Rachel Burden joked about an Olympic cyclist leaving her two gold medals in her car. “What?

Around here?” was her prejudiced remark.

The precious BBC employees may well be more used to their White City, London, site with its enclosed car-parking and natural security and find the open-access of Salford Quays rather different.

But branding Salford a dangerous place to be takes the biscuit.

Not only has the crime rate in Salford dropped in recent years but Salfordians themselves are among some of the warmest people in the country.

Coronation Street is largely so popular because Weatherfield is based on the neighbourliness and caring of Salford’s communities.

It’s not a myth, it’s a reality. Just as crime everywhere is real, not least in W12 around the BBC’s capital base.

Salford has welcomed the BBC with open arms, is grateful for the jobs and investment and, mistakenly, the positive profile.

Like other North-west cities and towns like Bolton, it doesn’t always get the best press, especially among the London set who seem to view us Northerners as a separate species.

The BBC has chosen to come up North because it’s a better, more costeffective base and they need to make it work.

Creating a climate of fear for employees does not contribute to this.

Being aware and security- conscious makes sense anywhere.

But, please give Salford a decent chance, embrace Northern life — and get real.