DEDICATED policing teams have been set up in two areas of Hartlepool as part of a community safety initiative.

Each team is made up of a police officer and a police community support officer (PCSO). One team is assigned to work in Rift House and the other in Burn Valley.

The officers aim to forge close links with their communities, and it is hoped that their uniformed presence on the streets will help to reassure residents.

The teams are part of a wider community safety initiative that was expanded to take in the Burn Valley and Rift House wards earlier this summer, after initially proving a success in Burbank.

That initiative involves a range of organisations, such as Hartlepool Borough Council, the police, the fire brigade, Housing Hartlepool, Hartlepool Community Network, churches and businesses.

The groups are working together to establish community safety improvement projects on several broad themes, including burglary, anti-social behaviour, drugs, supporting businesses and promoting the employment of local people.

Co-ordinator Brian Neale said: "Reassuring people is vital if the Burn Valley and Rift House initiative is to be successful, and these high-visibility policing teams have a key role in helping us to achieve that.

"Ask residents in any part of the town what they would most like to see in terms of community safety and the answer is likely to be the same - more bobbies on the beat."

The Rift House team comprises PC Ali Sah and PCSO Ian Heslop, who have a local base at the nursery, in Masefield Road.

The Burn Valley team is PC Michael McArdle and PCSO Andy Bell and they have access to an office at Eldon Grove Sports Centre.

Residents with non-urgent queries can arrange to meet members of either team by contacting (01429) 221151.