PROBLEMS caused by drunken teenagers on the streets of Redcar and the surrounding area are falling, according to the latest statistics.

The success is being put down to a Community Safety Partnership scheme run by Cleveland Police and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which sees the two organisations sharing resources and costs.

Paul Kirkham, director of resources at the council, said: "The council welcomes the developing partnership with the police and other organisations because it recognises the importance that each member of the public places in having a secure environment in which to live."

John Kelly, District Police Commander of Langbaurgh, said that the scheme was having "some fantastic successes" in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.

One of the biggest areas for the partnership to tackle was the problem of gangs of youths drinking and causing anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.

The best results have been in South Bank, where crimes have dropped from 1,213 per thousand residents in 1998, to 728 in 1999.