A CAMPAIGN to revive Neighbourhood Watch teams in Darlington will be launched next month.

Police believe more than 200 residents' groups in the town could be defunct because of lack of support.

An audit to find out how many are still in existence is being carried out prior to a event to launch the campaign in June.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Reddick, of Darlington police, said the force had not always given residents' groups the support they needed.

"I think in the past people have phoned the police and perhaps not always got the response they should have," he said.

"I think they have become possibly a bit disillusioned. That needs to change and we need to make it more pro-active."

The re-launch includes plans to replace quarterly newsletters with email updates every 24 hours to members on crime in their area.

Communities will be urged to set up schemes and lapsed members encouraged to rejoin their local Neighbourhood Watch.

"We have got eyes and ears on every street in Darlington and we need to utilize them," said Det Chief Insp Reddick.

"It is an untapped resource and I think it is massively important that we start to get people more involved. We reckon there were 218 schemes at one point, but that figure is probably wrong now."

He said Rural Watch in villages around the town was attracting lots of members and helping police solve crimes.

"People there are out on the street doing their own operations, although guided very much by us. I'd like to see that across Darlington," he said.

Some schemes in Darlington are still running successfully, including Mowden, but many disbanded.

Neighbourhood Watch liaison officer Jacqui Snowball is trying to trace those still operating.

"I also want to encourage other people who have thought about setting up a Neighbourhood Watch to contact me," she said.

"It's not a nine to five job or a hard slog. But it does solve crime. Every little piece of information the police get helps build up the jigsaw.

"The launch is at 7pm on June 19 at Feethams cricket ground."

Anyone who can help Ms Snowball with the audit, or who is interested in setting up a scheme, can telephone her on (01325) 346832.