A SENIOR police officer has spoken of the importance of local knowledge and community efforts after a rural village reported some of the lowest figures in County Durham.

Chief Superintendent Graham Hall, responsible for policing in the Darlington area of Durham Police, praised Middleton St George after the village recorded a reduction in crime in recent months, in sharp contrast to other areas.

At the monthly Middleton St George Police and Communities Together meeting, Ch Supt Hall said the information provided by local people, particularly members of the local Farm Watch group, helped officers target resources.

Concerns had been raised in the Middleton St George and neighbouring Neasham that the village had been left without regular police cover in recent months after the dedicated rural PC Paul Foley was moved to other operations in Darlington.

However, Ch Supt Hall announced at the meeting that PC Foley would be returning to his old beat, working with PCSO John Angus and a new sergeant, Catherine Iley.

Speaking to the packed meeting, Ch Supt said: “Comparing this year to last year the village and the rural area has had a 45 per cent reduction in crime.

“Unless people have suddenly started reporting less to us, that’s an unbelievable set of figures. We’re not saying we haven’t had problems but because of your efforts and your reporting of suspicious things, those figures are the best it’s been.

“When you look at Middleton St George and compare it to the rest of Darlington and County Durham they are having increases in crime and you are seeing decreases.

“You, collectively, are delivering. There’s something that’s working here.”

Residents welcomed the news that PC Foley would return to work in the village and stressed the importance of local knowledge if officers were to work effectively in the community.

One resident said: “All we want is an officer that’s interested in the rural area and knows the area. When you get officers coming in from Darlington they don’t know the area and that’s when there are problems.”

In response, Ch Supt Hall said: “I respect that view but please don’t think for one minute that any other officer coming to this village is not interested.”

At the meeting Ch Supt Hall presented PCSO Angus with a Chief Constable’s Commendation for his work in a long running case that helped to secure a lengthy jail term for a sex offender.

The commendation specifically praised PCSO Angus’ local knowledge and community links for helping to provide a breakthrough in the case.