A CRIME-fighting body is aiming to cut all offending in Derwentside by 15 per cent over the next three years.

The Derwentside Community Safety Partnership outlined its aims at a meeting in Consett Civic Centre yesterday.

The partnership group is made up of the Community Safety Forum, County Durham Drug and Alcohol Action Team as well as from representatives of the fire brigade and police.

Strategies to tackle anti-social behaviour include more use of the mobile youth club bus Ellie and closed-circuit television cameras on fire engines to catch yobs who attack the emergency services.

The idea is to help residents feel safer in their communities.

Chief Superintendent Eric Suddes said: "The recent three-week blitz on crime in Stanley was very successful, using an extra police presence.

"There were so many police officers visible, people were asking them if Tony Blair was coming to town.

"We will continue to identify hotspots in the town and carry out intelligence-led operations against offenders.

"We do not have the resources to always have that presence, but we will concentrate on other hotspots in Derwentside."

Chief Supt Suddes said a 15 per cent reduction in offending over the next three years was realistic because crime had fallen 13.5 per cent since 2002.