A NORTH-EAST chief constable yesterday introduced "the Dixons of Dock Green for the 21st Century" as he unveiled plans to put hundreds of officers onto neighbourhood beats.

Cleveland Police are to flood local communities with officers in the hope of driving down crime and restoring public confidence in policing.

At a launch yesterday, Chief Constable Sean Price likened the idea to the classic BBC television series in which old-school officer PC George Dixon pounded the streets as a community bobby.

That traditional style of policing is now back, with nearly 600 police and community support officers dedicated to community beats across Teesside.

Speaking at the event at Middlesbrough FC's Riverside Stadium yesterday, Mr Price said: "In the forthcoming days and weeks, these neighbourhood policing teams will be coming to a street near you - they will be a visible and reassuring presence.

"Every resident will receive the names and photos of their local neighbourhood team, complete with dedicated telephone contact details.

"It is the Dixon of Dock Green for the 21st Century."

The neighbourhood policing team has been expanded across Teesside after a successful pilot scheme in Hartlepool.

The initiative was launched in the town in April last year and involved having a dedicated neighbourhood policing team (NPT) in each of the 17 council wards.

Each NPT is made up of uniformed police officers, with additional support from police community support officers (PCSOs), special constables, volunteers and council enforcement officers.

The scheme - in which the Cleveland force will sign up to the One NorthEast Regional Image campaign, which aims to raise the profile of the region and awareness of its advantages - has been rolled out across Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton.

The intention is that communities benefit from more visible and accessible policing; and residents know who their local officers are, how to contact them, and what they are doing to address local crime and disorder.

Mr Price said: "I have carried out extensive consultation and the public and their representatives have made it very clear that they want a more visible, community-based police service.

"They also want to see young people diverted away from crime and addiction and encouraged to make the most of their talents.

"We have already achieved some remarkable results in reducing crime, and I believe this neighbourhood policing plan will help us progress further and make out streets safer."

Where possible, officers will be based at community focal points such as schools or libraries, and will be seen regularly on the beat.

Councillor Dave McLuckie, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said: "The constant message from the public is that they want a highly visible police presence on their streets, and that is what we have delivered, with a record number of police officers and a major increase in community support officers.

"The other thing that people tell us is that they want to feel a real connection with their local police team, and that is exactly what they will get from neighbourhood policing."

Mr Price said the launch marked the start of a new era.

"I firmly believe that the police should be as much a part of the community as the local school or the corner shop," he said.

"We are firmly on the side of the law-abiding majority who want to go about their everyday lives in safety and help their fellow human beings, if possible - a majority who believe in justice for all.

"We want to see the elderly and vulnerable protected and children diverted away from crime, anti-social behaviour and illegal drug addiction - communities that encourage individuals to make the most of their talents."

Mr Price denied the force's commitment to neighbourhood policing would impact on its ability to tackle serious and volume crime.

"Many of our raids focus on organised crime and have successfully targeted drug dealers, burglars and others responsible for bringing misery to local communities," he said.

"These hard-hitting raids will continue as we drive home the message that those in Cleveland who deal in drugs and crime will be caught. We will continue to be vigilant against drink-fuelled late night violence, domestic violence and the threat of terrorism.

"We will continue to reduce recorded crime and the fear of crime among all of our communities."