A LOCAL councillor has levelled criticism at a central police call centre after she was unable to get a response when faced with a volatile constituent.

The centre, at Bishop Auckland, covers the south of the county and was set up in March as part of a bid to free up desk-bound officers.

But Coun Margaret Hamilton, of Teesdale District Council, said the system needed to work more efficiently if public confidence was to be established.

Coun Hamilton told the police community consultative group she had rung the police office in Barnard Castle at 9pm one night, when calls are automatically routed to the new centre. But she had been unable to gain a response until 10.30 the following morning.

"I had a man banging at my door, shouting and waving his arms about. It was very frightening," she said.

She then told of another incident in the town's Hall Street, which she had also reported.

"I came across a mob of about 25 youths and a girl," she said. "One boy was on the floor and the girl was kicking the daylights out of him."

After waving her umbrella at them, Coun Hamilton again called the police.

"But they had no local knowledge and did not know where Hall Street was, or the library. I am sorry, but I have just given up," she said.

Resident Valerie Hinchcliffe reported similar problems.

"I asked if they could get the police to the main car park in Barnard Castle, where there was a fight, but they wanted to know the far end of everything," she added.

Supt Barry Knevitt agreed that if the public did not feel they were getting a quality product, they were not going to be reassured.

"The call taker does not know initially where your call is coming from," he said, saying this would improve as new technology was used.

Coun Keith Stansfield had reports of operators saying police were too busy to come out.

"That might be the case, but I don't think they should be saying that," he said.

Supt Knevitt agreed. "People might only call the police once in their lives, and the way that event is dealt with will colour their view forever," he said.

Coun Hamilton told how she had every faith in the local inspector, Kevin Tuck, it was the call centre which concerned her.

"When everything is in place it will be very sophisticated," she said. "But at the end of the day it's the local, common touch that reassures people."