A CRACKDOWN on crime will bring police and community workers together in a bid to stamp out violence, anti-social behaviour and drug abuse in Teesdale.

The joint initiative will bring together police, community safety officers, local authorities, drug action officers and members of the successful Farmwatch scheme, which has significantly reduced thefts from farms in the past few years.

The Wear and Tees Community Safety Partnership launched its initiative for Teesdale at the Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle,yesterday.

Main areas of concern highlighted at the launch included car crime, violent crime, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, burglary, anti-social behaviour and theft.

Although Teesdale has one of the lowest crime rates in the country, police are anxious to reduce the number of offences further, especially in crime hot spots including Cockfield and Evenwood.

Chief Superintendent Robin Trounson, commander of the Wear and Tees police division, said although crime rates were dropping overall, people's fear of crime in Teesdale was far higher than the national average.

He said: "It is no good saying there is nothing to worry about if crime figures are low, because the fact of the matter is that this is a very, very big challenge if we are to reduce them further.

"In Teesdale the fear of crime is far greater than in built-up areas, and that is largely due to people feeling they are isolated."

Types of crime that have risen in Teesdale are domestic violence, drug misuse and anti-social behaviour.

In the Wear Valley and Teesdale area, the number of domestic disturbances has risen from 450 during 1998/9 to 680 for 2000/1.

The number of recorded incidents of anti-social behaviour in 1998/9 was 480, compared with 723 incidents in 2000/1.

The largest increase in incidents of anti-social behaviour was seen in Barnard Castle town centre, which police believe could be a result of excessive drinking.

By 2005, police aim to reduce almost all crimes in Teesdale by as much as 15 per cent.

Charles Anderson, chief executive of Teesdale District Council, said: "Crime prevention is not just down to police, and that is what this partnership is all about.

"There is a responsibility on all of us as individuals for combating crime and disorder.