A NEW tool to protect property is being introduced by Durham Constabulary.

The Constabulary’s Neighbourhood Policing teams now have access to a new system for marking property discretely and permanently.

Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner, Ron Hogg, said: “The new system stamps a number onto items such as farm tools or equestrian equipment, and it can also be used to protect games consoles, mobile phones and other things which might be stolen”.

Chief Inspector Steve Ball, Police lead for rural issues, added: "People can also record details of the property they own on the national Immobilise database.

"When property is stolen, the Police use the Immobilise database to show which property belongs to which individual. That makes it much easier for the police to reunite people with their property after it has been stolen."

During September 2017, Mr Hogg will be highlighting several issues relating to rural policing on his Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The new property marking system will also be on display at Stanhope Show on Saturday.