In the second part of a special report on issues surrounding youth nuisance, Stuart Mackintosh looks at how the police view the problem, and John Dean examines how a junior Neighbourhood Watch initiative is improving the image of young people.

POLICE chiefs in Darlington have admitted they will be judged by the public on how they deal with the town's anti-social behaviour troubles.

Despite cases of violent crime dropping by 16 per cent in the past year, and domestic burglary being down 20 per cent, senior officers know anti-social behaviour has become the public's main concern.

In recent months, several estates - from the more deprived Skerne Park area to the affluent West End - have reported increasing numbers of incidents.

They ranged from cars being stolen and abandoned to large gangs of youngsters buying alcohol, abusing passers-by and committing acts of vandalism.

Police figures for Darlington and County Durham confirm the increase in numbers of such incidents, but reveal that the blame does not lie solely with the area's youngsters.

In 2001, there were 4,784 incidents of anti-social behaviour, with 1,924 of those being "youths causing annoyance".

The following year there were 5,634 cases and 2,346 involving youngsters. Last year, the figure rose to 8,037, with 3,353 of those being down to nuisance youths.

But police are keen to drive home the message that significant progress is being made in many areas.

Anti-social behaviour - alongside issues such as halting the supply of hard drugs and cutting the numbers of casualties on the roads - is high on the agenda for the Durham force's southern area.

Area commander Chief Superintendent Michael Banks, attended several community meetings accompanied by the officers behind a new local anti-social behaviour unit.

He also outlined the need for public support and understanding of the situation at a conference on anti-social behaviour held in the town's Dolphin Centre.

"There is a lot to be proud of in Darlington, but I know we will be judged on how we tackle anti-social behaviour," he said.

"The difficulty we have often got is people's perceptions at times - it is not an offence to stand in large numbers on street corners."

The unit has some big achievements under its belt, with plain clothes officers getting out on to the streets to talk to youngsters and in some cases organising football games for them.

The local council's Pods - giant containers offering activities for youngsters, as well as access to a range of advice services - have also been a success in areas including North Lodge Park.

But police say they fully recognise the trouble, and often menace, still being caused by a small minority.

More than 200 letters have been sent to parents whose children had to be spoken to by officers about their behaviour since the unit came into being.

Eleven of those were followed up with second letters warning that further action would be taken to tackle the problem unless things improved dramatically.

In Darlington, 12 youngsters are subject to "acceptable behaviour contracts", pledging that they will abide by the law or face the consequences.

Six anti-social behaviour orders are in place for persistent offenders whose conduct saw them brought before the courts.

Since the Anti-Social Behaviour Act became effective at the start of the year, 55 youths have been arrested and one given a custodial sentence.

Chief Supt Banks said: "Parents have a responsibility to know where their children are and what they are doing. But we have to get it in perspective. There are 10,000 teenagers in Darlington and the vast majority are very well-behaved indeed.

"We are committed to tackling this. But it is not just a police matter or a council matter, it is a community matter."

Watch scheme boosting youth image

HELPING to boost the image of young people in Middleton St George are members of the village's Junior Neighbourhood Watch.

The group was established in September last year and gives local children the chance to learn about crime prevention and good citizenship.

It meets after school on Mondays, in the village primary school, and was set up to provide better crime prevention education in the wake of an arson attack that caused major damage to classrooms.

PC Clare Addison, youth co-ordinator with Darlington police, said the young people received education in areas as varied as theft prevention, drug abuse and the dangers of arson, from agencies including the police and the fire and rescue service.

One of their projects is a bike marking scheme to reduce the risk of the machines being stolen.

PC Addison said: "It is about getting them to think about how to approach their lives and be good citizens for tomorrow. The children are very enthusiastic."

Year five pupil Taylor Cardus, aged ten, one of the group members, said: "I volunteered because I thought it would be a good idea to learn about the law and things like that."

Rosie Clarke, 11, a year six pupil, said: "What we are learning as part of Junior Neighbourhood Watch will be helpful to us in later life."

The group was recently recommended for a shrievalty award, funded by the High Sheriff of Durham. Two pupils joined dozens of other young people from across the county in March in Durham Castle. The remainder will receive their certificates in a ceremony to be held in Darlington Town Hall on May 25, between 6pm and 8pm.

Junior Neighbourhood Watch groups are also operating at Corporation Road and Springfield primary schools, Darlington, with others planned.