A three-year strategy for tackling crime, disorder and drug misuse in Hartlepool will be launched tomorrow.

The Safer Hartlepool Partnership will set out its vision for making the town a safer and healthier place over the next three years.

The partnership, made up of community groups and supported by the council and the police, will unveil its top seven priorities for tackling crime and drugs in Hartlepool.

The 2005 to 2008 strategy will be launched by Chief Superintendent Dave Nixon, Cleveland Police's district commander for Hartlepool and the vice-chairman of the Safer Hartlepool Partnership.

Priorities include providing more, better and fairer drugs treatment, reducing theft and burglary and reducing violent crime, especially in the town centre.

Formed last year through the merger of the town's Community Safety Partnership, Drugs Action Team and Youth Offending Steering Group, the partnership must carry out a review of crime, disorder and drugs misuse and produce a new strategy every three years.

Victims of crime have also been invited to the launch at the Baltic Suite, at Hartlepool Historic Quay, to explain how partnership initiatives have helped them.

Leaflets summarising the strategy will be delivered to homes and copies of the main document can be viewed at libraries, at the partnership office at 8 Church Street or by logging on to the partnership's website at www. saferhartlepool.co.uk