AN initiative to tackle crime has proved so successful it is being applied to more market towns in North Yorkshire.

Problem-solving groups have been set up in Hambleton to crack down on anti-social behaviour and reduce crime figures in the district.

Launched in Stokesley and Bedale, their success has meant similar groups have now been introduced in Northallerton and Thirsk.

Led by the Hambleton Community Safety Partnership, the programme involves people from multi-agency and local community groups. They deal with a wide range of crime related problems focusing both on the victims of crime and the offenders.

These multi-agency forums bring together representatives from the police, fire and rescue service, district, county and parish councils, and community education to discuss new ways to reduce nuisance in the area.

Community safety manager Chris Fields, said: "Everyone relevant to a particular area where anti-social behaviour is causing repeated problems is brought together.

"Then they analyse the problem from all aspects - the victims, the offenders and the location. No one agency can tackle some problems, so these meetings are vital to our work in crime reduction."

The first of these specialist meetings in both Thirsk and Northallerton took place earlier this month. The high level of vandalism and nuisance in Northallerton's many open spaces is first on the agenda to be tackled over the course of the next few months.

Community safety officer Val Dodsworth said: "These problem solving groups have been set up as a result of requests for assistance to solve perceived problems in the area.

"The partnership members need to share information and expertise in order to eventually find a long-term sustainable solution. The agencies involved will take away their portion of the problem, thereby making the overall task more manageable."

Agencies in the Stokesley area have had three meetings and are now liaising with youngsters in the community.

Meetings will also take place in Great Ayton and Easingwold in the near future.