THE North-East is facing a major threat from drugs, anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related crime, a conference in the region has heard.

Experts estimate there are more than 8,000 heroin addicts in the region, who are causing a huge drain on the economy and blighting the lives of thousands.

Delegates at the North-East Crime and Community Safety Forum conference yesterday were told new laws to allow 24-hour drinking would add to the problems.

Almost 200 representatives from the region's police, councils, health and voluntary groups, fire brigades and development organisations were at the Stadium of Light, in Sunderland, for the forum.

They heard from Regeneration and Regional Development Minister Lord Rooker, who said many people's lives were being ruined by the drinks industry.

While acknowledging people's fear of crime was still high, he said disorder and anti-social behaviour was being tackled by community warden schemes across the country and that residents were becoming less afraid.

He said: "Everywhere warden schemes have started, there have been reductions in crime. They are the most popular thing the Government has ever done.

"It has cost £93m, but that is chicken feed in terms of what Governments spend. This is not policing on the cheap. It is not a substitute for policing."

Alan Brown, a director of the Government Office NorthEast and a retired high-ranking police officer, told delegates the region was tackling five challenges -developing a partnership approach to reducing crime; drugs; alcohol; preventing re-offending; and anti-social behaviour.

He said progress had been made over the past year in all the areas, but conceded that much more needed to be done.

He said: "We need to recognise we have not met all the challenges.

"We cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal at all.

"We are moving forward on a vast number of fronts, but we must continue to pursue those who cause problems in our community.

"Thousands of people depend on heroin in the region, which means they cannot work and have to go out and steal to fund their habits."