POLICE in east Durham are moving to forge links with the local East European community.

Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Seaham will be meeting employees at Cumbrian Seafoods on the town’s Fox Cover Industrial Estate over the lunchtime period tomorrow.

The meeting is part of the Police and Community Together (Pact) initiative which aims to deliver on its Policing Pledge to give communities a voice in police planning.

There are already a range of Pact meetings to cover all of the towns and villages in the County Durham area.

Locally, there are also Pact meetings for young people in South Hetton and Easington.

The meeting at Cumbrian Seafoods is intended to give a voice to the emerging East European community, many of whom work in the company.

The Pact meeting is open to all staff at Cumbrian Seafoods.

If the meeting proves a success, the Neighbourhood Team will look to organising a similar event for the wider community, many of who live in the Dawdon area of Seaham.

Sergeant Rob Smith of the Neighbourhood Team said: "I’m pleased to say that from speaking to people in Dawdon, there is evidence of really good relations between all sections of the community.

"However, we can’t be complacent and this Pact gives us the chance to speak directly to the emerging community – interpreters will be on hand to help overcome any language barriers."