A NORTH-EAST county has been singled out as the top performing probation area in the country.

County Durham's probation service came top in a league of 42 areas which compared performance with national standards.

Professor Robert Williams, chairman of the probation board in County Durham, said he was delighted that the dedication and professionalism of its staff had been formally acknowledged.

County Durham has also been praised for the delivery of drug treatment and testing orders (DTTOs). The orders, introduced in October 2000, give offenders with drug addictions a community penalty rather than a jail term.

They are regularly tested for drugs and their progress is monitored by a court.

An HM Inspectorate of Probation report covering eight areas said County Durham was consistently achieving high standards for delivering DTTOs.

Assessments and recommendations made to the courts about those subject to orders were of a high standard.

About 65 people are on DTTOs in the county, although that number is expected to double over the next few years.

Research suggests that the orders have a greater success than spells in prison when it comes to preventing re-offending.