PLANS to clamp down on crime in a market town were unveiled yesterday.

The Government Office for the North-East has released £113,932 to reduce crime and fear of crime in Chester-le-Street.

The money will be spent on a range of projects over the next 12 months, led by Chester-le-Street Community Safety Partnership (CSP).

The CSP announced it will invest in measures to reduce anti-social behaviour, assist victims of domestic violence and tackle drug misuse.

Elizabeth Robinson, the partnership's community safety and development manager, said: "This gives us all of the funding that we need to be able to contribute to crime reduction within the district."

Chester-le-Street CSP works with district and county councils, police and probation services, health and the voluntary sectors and the fire and rescue services.

It is responsible for organising crime prevention strategies and community safety programmes in the district.

"Our goal is to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour figures over the coming year," said Ms Robinson.

"But just as important, we want Chester-le-Street residents to recognise and to feel that we are all living in safer, more secure communities."

Schemes that will be introduced include converting a police van into a mobile closed-circuit television unit and setting up a computer-based message system that will link residents in Neighbourhood Watch areas.

Funding will also create a post for an officer to work with landlords in the private sector, tackling anti-social behaviour by tenants.

A needle exchange project will be set up for registered drug users, to help reduce the number of needles discarded in public areas.

The partnership will also pay to train staff at the Bridge Project, which supports victims of domestic violence, and provide funding for the mobile youth club, Eric.

Alan Brown, director of Crime Reduction for the North-East, said: "The CSP's record in improving the life and security of Chester-le-Street residents is a good one.

"But its plans for the coming year are proof that it continues to learn from experience, listen to residents, establish priorities and find solutions to the problems and issues that are of greatest concern in Chester-le-Street."