PRIME Minister Tony Blair will launch a move to tackle yob culture during a visit to the region today.
He will endorse a police pledge to crack down on crime and disorder in communities across County Durham and Darlington.
At a lunchtime ceremony at Hardwick Hall Hotel, in his Sedgefield constituency, he will unveil a StreetSafe initiative.
Thirteen uniformed community inspectors have been charged with finding answers to crime and disorder.
They will target issues such as vandalism, graffiti, teenage drinking, late-night street noise, abandoned cars, criminal damage, misuse of fireworks and off-road motorbikes.
Although Durham is one of the safest places in the country, anti-social behaviour is the issue giving people greatest concern.
Chief Constable Paul Garvin said: "Offending has fallen by around 25 per cent in the last decade, but people still feel threatened, particularly by anti-social behaviour and disorder.
"It is about listening more closely to victims and giving them confidence that we are taking their problems seriously by tackling head-on the behaviour and issues that can have such a huge impact on everyday lives."
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