PETERLEE’S new neighbourhood police inspector has said he will be putting the community at the heart of his work.

Warren Edwards, 46, who has formally taken up his post following his promotion, said: “I have a background in neighbourhood policing, having just spent six years in Spennymoor where I was the neighbourhood police sergeant.

“Neighbourhood policing is my passion. You are looking at longer-term issues not just going in seeing someone briefly and walking away from it.”

He added: “I am more focussed on people than processes.

“I think from if I get the right team in place on this end then it has got to help out with the community.

“I will be working on the solid foundations laid by my predecessor (Insp Dave Coxon).

“And I will be instilling into my team the right work ethic and my expectations - which are to provide the people of County Durham with a better quality of life.”

Among the areas he will be focussing on is an action plan started by Insp Coxon in Shotton Colliery – an area which historically has had high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour.

Insp Edwards said: “The initiative has already paid off.

“Last year there were 19 arrests following trouble during bonfire night. This year bonfire was a big success, with only one arrest. We had positive feedback from people who said they did feel safer.”

He added: “Peterlee has it issues around retail crime and anti-social behaviour.

“I will be looking at working with retailers to alleviate that specially in the run up to Christmas, when shoplifting it always a problem.

Insp Edwards, who hails from Middlesbrough, will mark his 25th year with Durham Constabulary in January.