NEIGHBOURHOOD policing has been boosted following its successful launch earlier this year.

A dedicated support team - the first of its kind in the country - has been expanded in Hartlepool with the appointment of two more staff members.

The newest recruits to the multi-agency neighbourhood policing community co-ordination support team are problem-solving co-ordinator Shelley Watson and Stuart Hagon, from Cleveland Fire Brigade.

Ms Watson is a serving police officer with more than 26 years' service and will be responsible for encouraging partnership working and problem-solving within the police, outside agencies and residents.

Mr Hagon will help build on partnerships with outside agencies to reduce arson and anti-social behaviour in relation to fire.

He has been a member of the Cleveland brigade for ten years, seven of which were spent as an operational firefighter.

For the past three years, he has been working as part of the brigade's community education department, co-ordinating the home fire safety check initiative.

Neighbourhood policing was launched in Hartlepool in April, and there are dedicated neighbourhood policing teams in each of the town's 17 council wards.

Project manager Brian Neale said: "We are committed to working with partners to implement neighbourhood policing across the town.

"We are confident that this multi-agency way of working is helping both residents and outside agencies to understand how and why the project should work in Hartlepool."