TARGETING known crooks is forcing down crime figures, say police.

Figures released by the Cleveland Force this week showed that crime fell by 11.5 per cent between April and June.

But sexual offences have almost doubled, rising from 25 in May to 45 in June. And violent crime has risen by 272 crimes - or 56 per cent - in June compared with the same month last year.

Assistant chief constable Bryan Bell said: "Obviously we want to see reductions in all areas. New counting rules have seen a rise in offences of violence, but we are determined to see cuts across the board.

"Our main thrusts to target people carrying out burglaries and car crimes have proved successful.

"Together with the continuing offensive on drugs, these are the offences which directly affect most people's lives."

The figures came as a police boss renewed a call to the public to shop drug dealers after successful raids in Teesside.

Twenty-six people have been arrested. Drugs, including heroin and Ecstasy, with a street value of £1,850 and £2,668 in cash, have been seized during 27 raids in the Langbaurgh area.

Langbaurgh District Commander Chief Supt Adrian Roberts pioneered the Dealer a Day operation in Middlesbrough and unrolled the initiative in Langbaurgh on July 1. He said: "This is an excellent result in such a short timescale. In order to achieve our goal we need the continued assistance of residents whose lives are affected by the scourge of dealers and users."

Overall crime across the force area was down by more than nine per cent in June compared with the previous month, including car crime cut by a third. Offences fell from 6,457 in June, 2002, to 5,864, last month. There was an 18 per cent drop in robberies and more than an 11 per cent reduction in house burglaries.

Coun Ken Walker, chairman of the Cleveland Police Authority, said: "I am particularly pleased that we are making a real impact on those types of crime which affect the lives of so many people."