A police team is having a real impact on local crime and it is to reveal the facts to prove it.

A team of six officers, one sergeant and five constables, has been based in the Hetton area of County Durham for almost a year.

During that time, the number of reported crimes has steadily reduced.

Officers have witnessed reductions in the type of crimes which cause the greatest concern to local residents, such as burglary, car crime and youth disorder.

Following the team's success, senior officers from Washington police station will be giving details of the crime reduction statistics at a public meeting at The Hetton Centre next Tuesday evening.

Washington Area Command's senior police officer, Superintendent Brian Nicholson, will be giving an in-depth review of the team's impact as well as a general overview of crime in the Hetton area.

The meeting, which will begin at 7pm, is the latest in a series of Police and Community Forums to be held in the area this year as part of regular consultations with the public about crime and policing.