Phantoms of the Underpass

It might sound like a spoof from Chris Morris's Brasseye, but the powers that be are poised to use opera to tackle crime.

We say crime, but the catalogue of crimes isn't titanically high on the richter scale. Rather, the authorities are trying to 'clean up' the Karlsplatz subway station.

Alcoholics and drug-addicts are the main targets. The police have not managed to get loiterers to move on from the station, and so the city council has opted for a more unorthodox angle - to fill the halls with celestial sounds.

"These sort of people are not known for their love of opera and classical music, and we believe they will not hang around now," says spokesman for Ursula Stenzel, city councillor. " Those that do linger might find that civilised music encourages civilised behaviour."

It's something of a snooty remark, and social workers are unconvinced. What's more, surely munchers of Class A chemicals are agreed on one thing - that music enhances the high?