RESIDENTS are invited to help shape the future of policing in County Durham at a meeting next week.

Durham Police Authority is inviting people to attend its Your Police, Your Say event on Friday June 5, at Sedgefield Community College, in Sedgefield village.

At 9.30am there will be the opportunity to discuss local policing issues and priorities with members of the Police Authority and Chief Constable Jon Stoddart and force staff.

The meeting of the Police Authority will be held at 10.30am and the public can attend the open session when general business is discussed.

Peter Thompson, chairman of Durham Police Authority, said the authority wants to involve the public in its work and will hold meetings in the communities it represents.

He said: "As local tax payers, you invest in the police services for County Durham and Darlington, so we feel that your views should be taken into account when we make our decisions.

"We have already held meetings in Durham and Darlington and we are open for other suggestions for meetings to be held out in our wider communities."

For details email durham.pa@durham.gov.uk, call 0191-3835511 or visit www.durham-pa.gov.uk.