A POLICE team is not just on the beat but online as well in a bid to fight crime and forge stronger links with the community.

The Spennymoor neighbourhood policing unit has joined the social networking website Facebook.

The team is the first in County Durham to launch its own page on the site and its hopes the move will strengthen its role in the community.

Internet surfers can become fans of the unit’s Facebook group and each time they visit the network they can get regular updates about its work.

Officers will post information about operations and incidents in Spennymoor, West Cornforth, Ferryhill and surrounding villages.

There will be photographs and reports of events, a link to the force’s main website and polls asking visitors to share their views on issues facing the police.

Whilst membership is open to everyone the team particularly hopes to engage with young people in the area.

PCSO Adam Grundy, who works in Spennymoor town centre and set up the site, said: "We want to reach out to everyone, especially younger age groups within the community.

"Lots of people these days have Facebook sites and we’d like them to become fans of our page so they can find out what we do in their community and relate to us.

"We want them to know who their beat team is, so they know who to come to for help or to give us information and to show them what we are doing for them and their community."

To access the site log on to Facebook and search for Spennymoor police.