A CHANGE in police tactics in which detectives are used in the fight against low-level crime and anti-social behaviour has produced a dramatic increase in detection rates, officers claimed yesterday.

They said the reorganisation of neighbourhood policing teams in North Durham to allow uniformed and CID officers to target everyday crimes has produced "outstanding" results, with detection rates up by more than one-third.

Last month, the first full month that the "hard-edged" neighbourhood policing teams have been in operation, the number of crimes solved has jumped from a monthly average of 550 to 858.

Superintendent Ian Macdonald, who heads operational policing for the districts of Derwentside, Easington, Durham City and Chester-le-Street, said: "We have all been working to a common agenda, targeting the type of offending that hits the quality of community life.

"Early results have been quite outstanding and we are now looking to make lasting change."

Under the reorganisation, six teams of up to 30 officers have been set up, each led by a community inspector.

The teams are made up of uniformed, CID, intelligence and community support officers who identify and tackle known hotspots. These are highlighted at a daily conference which identifies priorities for the next 24 hours.

Supt Macdonald said: "In the past, detectives would have been less likely to have been involved in investigating criminal damage, minor assaults and associated disorder. But their invaluable skills and advice are being put to good effect to support the work of less-experienced uniformed officers."

The force said that some members of the public, especially the elderly, had voiced concerns the changes meant fewer bobbies on the beat.

However, Supt Macdonald said: "We have traded off an element of visible patrols to allow us to make more detections and arrests.

"Officers are being kept very busy locking up suspects and we think, under these circumstances, the change is something people will happily accept for the moment.

"We have 45 police community support officers in the north of the county at present, and they have been continuing their high-profile patrol work.

"Their number will be boosted by 17 new recruits during the next 12 months.