CRIMEFIGHTERS have stepped up the fight against yob culture in Durham and the villages around the city.

Clare Peaden has been appointed Durham's anti-social behaviour officer, a post funded by the Home Office for two years.

She held a similar post at Stockton and will work with the community and the Chester-le-Street and Durham Community Safety Partnership, which is made up of the police, councils, fire brigade and other agencies. Chester-le-Street has its own officer.

Her role will be to help to co-ordinate the fight against anti-social behaviour - such as youths congregating in large groups, vandalism and graffiti, one of the police's current priorities.

She will have a key role in preparing acceptable behaviour contracts for known troublemakers and, in serious cases, anti-social behaviour orders, which can land people who break them behind bars.

Mrs Peaden said: "One of the main problems I see is youth disorder - from noise and disturbance to anything anyone would perceive as anti-social behaviour.

"It could be large groups of youths gathering outside shops. It is the fear of crime.

"I'll be working very closely with the police and doing joint patrols with them and the community wardens to see what the problems are and to get to know the community. I have noticed in similar communities that there isn't a lot for youths to do.

"The question is how can we resolve this and give them things to do rather than have them out and about.''

Mrs Peaden said she would be attending residents' meetings as well as meeting people with particular problems.

"From the statistics, crimes have gone down but the fear of crime has gone up," she said.'

Mrs Peaden, who is being funded through the Home Office's Building Safer Communities scheme, will help with the preparation of the partnership's anti-social behaviour strategy.

Insp Dick Dodds, of Durham Police, said: "This appointment can only enhance the excellent partnership approach that already exists.

"All the police community beat team will be working closely with Clare to resolve issues with the community.''

Anyone with an anti-social behaviour problem they want tackling can call Mrs Peaden on (0191) 301 8449.