We will do better, police promise crimefighters

But speaking at a relaunch of the Neighbourhood Watch initiative in Darlington, Detective Chief Inspector Andy Reddick said his officers were willing to rectify past mistakes.

The relaunch was attended by some of the existing Neighbourhood Watch groups in the town as well as people interested in setting up schemes.

Det Chief Insp Reddick told the meeting that an audit of groups in Darlington had shown that about 60 per cent of those registered had ceased operating, but officers had been unaware they had folded.

He said: "I know people have thought in the past that if they say they are from a Neighbourhood Watch scheme they are not taken seriously by the police, but things are going to change.

"We want to encourage people to look after their own property and community with our support and I promise that from now on that support will be there for organised groups."

Until now, information about crime in a particular area has been posted to Neighbourhood Watch groups every three months, but this is due to be changed.

Det Chief Insp Reddick said: "By the time the groups get the information it is too historical for them to do anything about.

"We are now setting up a system which will allow us to email Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators every 24 hours with what has been happening in their area.

"They can then pass information on to their members which will make them aware of operations we are carrying out and anything we are particularly interested in.

"If there has been a suspicious car in an area or bogus callers we can warn residents.

"I am determined to make Neighbourhood Watch a real partnership. The schemes will have to operate on their own but they will have our support and information will flow both ways to help us fight crime."

PC Jacqui Snowball, the Neighbourhood Watch liaison officer for Darlington, will co-ordinate the new-look schemes in the town.

Anyone interested in setting up a scheme can call her on (01325) 346832