A POLICE team set up to tackle anti-social behaviour in Darlington has arrested 45 young people since it was launched in February.

The figure amounts to almost one arrest per shift.

Of the 45 arrested, 26 have been children aged 16 or younger - and many have gone on to be charged with public order offences, theft or handling stolen goods. The other arrests have largely been people under 25.

Inspector Chris Reeves, who oversees the team, said the arrests come as a harsh warning to youngsters who were considering causing trouble.

He said: "The message is we are targeting them and there is a realistic prospect of being caught."

Last year, there were almost 5,000 reported incidents of young people causing problems in Darlington.

The StreetSafe team was launched as a dedicated unit to focus on solving the problems caused by a hardcore of about 50 trouble-making youths.

So far, the team has focused on large groups hanging around the streets and drinking in Branksome, but they have also tackled problems in other parts of the city.

One of the biggest complaints from residents was youths riding off-road motorbikes on pavements, roads and in parks.

Of the 45 arrests, 20 have been arrested for theft or handling stolen goods - most of them bikes. Of the 20, nine were 16 of younger and 14 have gone on to be charged or reported for the offences.

Insp Reeves said: "Almost half of the arrests made by the team have been in connection with stolen goods, in particular motorbikes, which shows we have made inroads in what was a major source of complaint."

Since February, 20 people have been arrested for public order offences, including six for being drunk and three for criminal damage.

Two children have been arrested for suspected possession of cannabis.

Three teenagers were arrested in February for trespassing on the railway line in Middleton St George.