A PARTNERSHIP working between Durham Constabulary and Darlington Borough Council has been praised by Government inspectors.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) described the Youth Offending and Community Safety Service, in Darlington, which was launched in March last year, as a "groundbreaking achievement" in its report on the police force.

Special mention went to the "synergy of combined effort" and the report said: "Key decisions have been able to be taken swiftly by empowered staff."

Darlington's uniformed wardens scheme was also praised, the HMIC noting: "The standard of professionalism and the quality of the individuals recruited was impressive."

Councillor Bill Dixon, the council's cabinet member for social services, said: "Forming the Youth and Community Safety Service was the first part of the partnership. The uniformed warden service is getting the praise it deserves as a product of the way we work together in Darlington.