'Youth shelters' created by police to further reduce crime

Despite the town enjoying a 14 per cent reduction in recorded crime during the last year, police say adolescent crimes are on the increase.

With house burglaries in retreat for years, police say they have identified their next big battleground - teenage troublemakers.

With a 16 per cent increase in teenage nuisance incidents, Chester-le-Street officers are setting up a number of youth shelters - areas like bus stops, walls and sports pitches that will be designated youth-friendly zones.

Inspector Ken Cooke, of Chester-le-Street, explained the idea behind the scheme.

He said: "Youth nuisance is becoming a big issue in this town - in fact it's the next big thing.

"We are looking to try to find long-term sustainable solutions to this problem.

"These youth shelters have been used to great effect in other parts of the country, so we thought about introducing it here."

The police got together with the other agencies which are tackling teenage disaffection - Chester-le-Street District Council and the Youth Offending Team - to face the growing problem.

Last month, police received 125 complaints - that is four per day - relating to youth activities from residents in Chester-le-Street and the surrounding area.

Insp Cooke said: "These youth shelters will give youngsters a focal point for them to hang around.

"As long as they are not being abusive, violent or drunk, they will have a place that they feel they could own.

"Of course, if they chose to ignore this opportunity and continued to cause a nuisance then we could start proceedings."

The new approach is a determined effort to bridge the gap between youngsters and the police.

Insp Cooke explained: "We do not want to crack eggs with sticks. We don't want law-abiding people with good kids to resent us because we have been over zealous."

Public meetings between police, youngsters and residents will see a list of possible youth shelter sites drawn up.