Recruits to Cleveland Police have been told the force will not rest on its laurels after a drop in crime.

Chief Constable Sean Price told the latest 28 rookie officers, due to start patrols next year, that despite large falls in crime, there will be no let-up.

Speaking on the first anniversary of his Putting People First initiative, Mr Price said he was committed to putting more officers on the front line to deal with rising complaints about anti-social behaviour.

He said: "I decided to start putting officers back into the community after local residents told me they wanted their officers back.

"It is my intention to have one police officer in every ward in this area who will be supported by police community support officers. It's what the public want and it's really important that we try to deliver on that promise."

The force has secured 21 additional support officers with Government funding, he told the recruits, who are studying at the University of Teesside.

He said: "Our commitment to target anti-social behaviour - which can cause so much misery to people - was strengthened with the announcement from the Home Office. This will bring our total number to just under a hundred - one of the highest in the country."

Despite a fall in crime figures, incidents of anti-social behaviour have risen.

He said: "I don't like the term anti-social behaviour. What we are talking about are criminal offences - vandalism, threatening behaviour and criminal damage.

"It's so bad in some areas, people are frightened to come out at night."