Police and residents will soon be working more closely together in the fight against crime.
Addressing Neighbourhood Watch network leaders at the weekend, Detective Superintendent Susan Cross, Middlesbrough crime manager, said: "I want to work with the existing co-ordinators to improve two-way communication.
"I am also looking at ways that we can make better use of information technology to the benefit of both the neighbourhood watches and the police to speed up the sharing of intelligence information.
"We have 215 Neighbourhood Watch scheme registered in the Middlesbrough area covering over 10,000 households. I'm not convinced that we are making best use of the enthusiasm, skills and commitment of our co-ordinators and Neighbourhood Watch members."
She outlined plans to revolutionise the Middlesbrough network, including increasing the number of network co-ordinators, and improving and expanding the flow of information to stimulate grassroots information on criminal activities.
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