A POLICE chief has pledged to make sure every community in his force area has a bobby on the beat who keeps in touch with locals via mobile phone.

Cleveland Chief Constable Sean Price wants to put a dedicated officer in each of the 90 wards on Teesside so the public will see "the human face of the force".

Residents will be given their photograph, name, email address and a mobile phone to call to pass on information or discuss criminal activity.

Mr Price said: "One of the main things I feel is important is that communities feel they have someone they can turn to.

"A lot of people feel that, as we have got more squad cars, they have lost the friend around the corner they could rely on.

"These officers will talk to people and make sure the villains who cause local problems are locked up."

Mr Price unveiled the strategy as part of his Putting People First initiative, which was launched earlier this month.

The plan is to be discussed by Cleveland Police Authority next month.

If approved, Mr Price hopes officers will in place across the area within a year.

It already has the backing of authority chairman Councillor Ken Walker.

He said: "It is about bringing the police back into the community and having that mobile phone contact number will make a big difference.

"We also want to get funding to provide community officers with police community support officers to create dedicated community teams.

"This is being done because it is what people have told us they want."