Darlington is leading the way in a review of ways to improve street safety, and reduce crime and the fear of crime.

A Best Value report on street safety has been produced over the past seven months by the borough council and police authority.

It is the first joint best value report in the country, which has enabled the authorities to come up with ways of combining their resources and expertise to provide a comprehensive package of measures to create a better service.

Police Chief Superintendent Michael Banks and Councillor Bill Dixon, Darlington council's cabinet member for social services, said that relevant council departments and police had teamed up to examine street safety issues.

The council is already leading the way with a community wardens scheme, one of four nationally with enforcement powers.

The Best Value report into street safety has made several recommendations on extending the wardens scheme.

Coun Dixon said that while crime has fallen over the past five years, the fear of crime had risen.

The report recommends that 25 more wardens are recruited over the next five years, to ensure each ward in the local authority is covered.

There are also plans to give all wardens, from traffic and dog wardens to community wardens, plus other staff, a corporate identity.

Coun Dixon said: "We want to produce a common front so people are aware the wardens are around and about, so they feel safer."

Chief Supt Banks said: "Short-term it is about increasing the visible presence on the streets by extending the police family, but long term we want to be in the top 25 per cent in the country for crime reduction.

"We also want police officers and wardens to be responsible for a particular ward area so they are recognised by the public, so we have a beat management scheme."

Recommendations made in the report must go before the police authority next week and the council's cabinet in April, before they get the go ahead.