Plans to tackle anti-social behaviour

Cleveland police superintendent Graham Strange, who recently took over as chairman of the Neighbourhood Nuisance Group, announced the aim during a presentation to Middlesbrough councillors.

He singled out six priority areas for a range of measures, including making use of the Operation United Estates.

Supt Strange said: "We have been using traditional law enforcement techniques for as long as I have been in the police, and I don't think they work.

"The problem in the past has been that work has not been co-ordinated. I am hoping that because we are going to be liaising better, our response to disorder will be better across the board."

Supt Strange plans to involve mental health staff, licensing officers, trading standards, housing teams, youth offending teams and other agencies to restore residents' faith in the police and council.

"Anti-social behaviour is very rarely classified as a priority, and very often we don't manage to get there at the time it is occurring," he said.

"That doesn't do our reputation any good."

He identified Coulby Newham, Hemlington, Easterside, North Ormesby, Southfield, Gresham and Saltersgill, as areas for special attention, with increased patrols to catch troublemakers in the act, and meetings to assess progress.

In addition to making arrests, the agencies will confront youngsters and talk to them, send letters to their parents, make referrals to other organisations and issue cautions.

Jeanette Walker, of Hemlington Community Council, said: "It is nice to know that something like this is going to take effect, but we find it very frustrating when we hear that things are going to be put in place and nothing actually happens."