A TOWN'S new police chief has pledged there will be no let up in the war against crime.

Chief Superintendent Mark Braithwaite, Middlesbrough's divisional police commander from Monday, said tackling the menace of drugs was at the top of the agenda.

But he vowed a tough stand would remain against burglars, muggers, prostitution and anti-social behaviour.

Chief Supt Braithwaite, who puts in his last day as divisional commander at Hartlepool today, said: "I am very much aware of the extent of the drugs problem in and around Middlesbrough and the associated prostitution, violence and intimidation it brings.

"I have seen at first hand the misery death and despair the drug trade creates.

"The use and abuse of hard drugs, particularly heroin and crack cocaine, is one of the biggest challenges we face, not just in terms of police enforcement but as families and as a community generally.

"As an enforcement agency we have to focus our energies on both the street dealers peddling drugs on the streets and those on a higher level, orchestrating the importation of drugs into the town and region."

Chief Supt Braithwaite, who headed several major inquiries in Middlesbrough as co-leader of a murder investigation team, said the menace of drugs had to be tackled on a number of levels, including looking at treatment.

"We have to treat these people and, as an enforcement agency, we have to concentrate our efforts on taking the dealers out," he said.

"There is superb work being done by all officers in Middlesbrough, and in particular by the dedicated drug enforcement team. That work will continue.

"I am keen to see the already strong links we have, strengthened as we continue to mount a united front against crime and anti-social behaviour to make Middlesbrough a safer place in which to live, work and visit.''

He said his predecessor, Chief Supt Dave Lumb, had an enviable record of success and played a key role in forging partnerships with residents' groups, the local authority and business groups.