POLICE are moving traffic officers out of headquarters in a bid to put more bobbies on the beat.

Today, more than 100 officers from Durham Police's HQ at Aykley Heads are being moved to seven main stations.

In the south, 24-hour stations in Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Newton Aycliffe will take the additional staff. In the north, officers will work from Durham, Chester-le-Street, Stanley and Seaham.

Chief Inspector Dave Hogg, said that, since 1964, traffic officers had operated centrally under headquarters-based senior officers.

He said: "Although traffic vehicles have been located at bases right across the force, in recent years their use has very much been directed by the centre and we wanted to change that.

"We are constantly listening to what the public tell us and these changes will put traffic crews back where they used to be, directed by local supervision towards local problems and in direct contact with local people supporting Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

"Area commanders, under whose direction the traffic crews will be, recognise the need to maintain the focus on the force's road policing agenda but have also welcomed the enhanced support these vastly experienced officers can add to local policing at a neighbourhood level."

Traffic specialists with advanced driver status could, he said, be used to answer 999 calls.

Chief Insp Hogg said: "These are our best drivers, have the most appropriate vehicles and they themselves recognise they are best suited to respond to such calls. In supporting the areas in this way, it will potentially relieve pressures on inexperienced response officers and provide the potential to cut the number of police accidents.''