A PIONEERING police unit that has slashed anti-social behaviour in a North-East town has been disbanded.

A week after Prime Minister Tony Blair declared that yob disorder was his number one priority, the StreetSafe unit in Darlington has been axed.

The unit of five police officers and a community warden has reduced youth disorder in the west of the town by 40 per cent since it was launched in February.

Dozens of young people have been arrested for criminal damage, being drunk and disorderly, theft and public order offences.

The team has also reduced under-age drinking, which fuels anti-social behaviour in parts of the town.

Yesterday, even the police bosses who took the decision to disband the team said the unit had been a terrific success.

Acting Chief Inspector Ian Butler said the officers and community warden were being redeployed around the town as beat officers, following demands from local politicians.

Sergeant Dave Kirton, who led the team, said he was disappointed.

He said: "StreetSafe was set up to reduce the fear of crime, and one of the issues was to try to deliver StreetSafe to the whole of County Durham, not just Darlington.

"We have had quite a lot of discussion with local communities through partnerships, and we have found more and more demand for beat officers.

"The unit has been a terrific success, but we have to deliver that in all areas of Darlington."

In the year before the unit was launched, there were almost 5,000 reports of youths causing annoyance in the community.

But since the team was set up, they have befriended some of the biggest troublemakers in the town - and by offering incentives and by showing confidence in the youths, they have reduced problems.

One of the biggest achievements of the team is that they have set up an after-school project in Branksome, which has reduced the problem of youths causing annoyance.

The Westside project has helped 350 children to enjoy raves, discos and sporting activities on Friday nights.

And only last week, the project was awarded £2,500 by Darlington Round Table to enable it to continue until Christmas.

Last night, Tony Richmond, leader of the Darlington Conservative group, criticised the move.

He said: "I find it unbelievable, because anti-social behaviour in Darlington is a big issue. Just recently they have been saying how successful this unit has been.

"If the problem had gone away I could have some sympathy, but this move just means anti-social behaviour is going to get worse."

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