A COUNCILLOR has called for more police and community warden patrols in the Linthorpe area of Middlesbrough.

At a public meeting held in Linthorpe School, Councillor Jackie Elder and more than 30 people turned up to ask the police what they intended to do to combat anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in that part of the town.

Coun Elder said crime was escalating and some people were too frightened to walk down the street in daylight.

Speaking after the meeting, she said: "People who live in the area are starting to get concerned about the level of crime and the police's response to the problem.

"I know of one lady who can't even walk down her street at two in the afternoon without looking over her shoulder to make sure no one is following her. Surely that's not right.

"We need a bigger police presence to bring the problem under control and we need the community wardens to be on patrol after 10pm because that is normally when the anti-social behaviour begins, especially at the weekend.

"Anti-social behaviour is becoming a major problem, with people no longer bothering to report crimes such as vandalism to the police because they don't feel their complaints are being dealt with."

Coun Elder is hopeful that the meeting has created better communications between residents, the police and the local authority, which runs the warden scheme.

Councillor Barry Coppinger, Middlesbrough Council's executive member for public protection, said: "We have 70 wardens and they provide a tremendous townwide service and play a big part in reducing crime and the fear of crime.

"We make sure they are deployed where and when they are most needed using up-to- the-minute information of where problems are.

"Moving to a 24-hour service would cost more than £1m and, given the fact that just a month ago this councillor was demanding we cut our budget, I do find her comments a bit rich."

Chief Superintendent Mark Braithwaite, who attended the meeting, was unavailable for comment yesterday.