A CRIME-BUSTING police van was showing off its capabilities yesterday.

The 1.9 litre Vauxhall Vivaro with CCTV security camera, which joins four others operating in the north of County Durham, will be mainly used in the Easington area.

It will add to the police coverage in Derwentside, Chester-le-Street and Durham City areas.

The well-equipped van will be used at major outdoor events and in towns on busy weekends and evenings when pub and partygoers are out in force.

It was on show at Peterlee Football Club yesterday. But it made its public debut at the cricket match between England and Australia at the Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street last week, when it was deployed as back-up for the major policing event.

The camera can zoom in to provide clear images of objects hundreds of metres away and rotate to provide full 360-degree coverage.

Its high-resolution pictures are fed to a screen on the dashboard and the officers in the front of the van have full control over the camera's movements.

Chief Inspector Dave Hogg, community justice manager for the north area, said: "The use of video evidence in court proceedings has proved to be very effective and we will not hesitate to utilise such evidence in prosecuting individuals who act in a disorderly manner and blight the lives of local people. This vehicle will be an excellent asset to local officers.''

The Vivaro is a converted cell van, of the type used across the force to transport prisoners. The vehicle itself cost £14,500 and a similar sum was spent on buying the CCTV equipment and having it fitted by a specialist company.