POLICE bosses in the North East have welcomed a share of a multi-million pound Government windfall in the fight against drug-driven crime.

All police areas in the North-East and North Yorkshire will share in a £144m national package of measures including a £50m fund for local police chiefs to target local problems.

There will also be £94m allocated to local crime and disorder reduction partnerships, which include police, schools, councils and residents to be used for tackling drugs and crime.

Middlesbrough is one of 30 areas to receive a share of a £46.2m package of measures, including improved drugs testing, drug treatment and aftercare, to break the link between drugs and offending.

The town is the home of the pioneering Dealer-a-Day initiative aimed at taking dealers off the streets.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said: "As a result of that initiative, the last three months of last year saw a 21 per cent drop in acquisition crime - stealing to buy drugs - compared to 2001, and this and the extra money will help us sustain the initiative.

"More and more people are being arrested and dealt with for drugs offences.

And as a result there has been a sizeable drop in acquisition crime.''

Councillor Ken Walker, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said: "What is really important about today's announcements is that they are designed to put resources where they can be most effective - with the agencies who understand the needs of their particular areas and know how the money should be spent to make a real impact on the drive against the drugs trade and the crime it generates.''

Darlington is to receive £151,975 towards crime reduction and drug prevention strategies, Chester-le-Street, £86,763, Derwentside, £106,925, and Durham £110,384.

Allocations to local crime and disorder partnerships include £312,409 for Middlesbrough, £109,995 for Sedgefield, £393,444 for Sunderland and £50,022 for Teesdale and £99,419 for Wear Valley.

Home Secretary David Blunkett said: "Drugs can tear communities apart and make thieves and villains out of those who would, under normal circumstances, be law-abiding citizens.

"We recognise that people living in certain areas are particularly affected by the crime wave that drugs can bring; that is why we will use every opportunity to break the link between drugs and offending.'