POLICE have sent 900 letters to residents of a North-East community asking them for help to prosecute organised criminal gangs.

People in South Stanley are being asked to supply officers with information about who they are, where they live and what cars they drive.

They are also asking people to report those who are growing cannabis, drug dealing, committing benefit fraud and lending money at extortionate rates.

The initiative from the Stanley Neighbourhood Policing Team comes after the successful prosecution of seven members of the Wright family for their role in £3m insurance cash for crash scam.

Sergeant Dave Clarke said: “We are interested in any criminal activity, however these organised criminal groups are usually the most difficult to catch which is why we are seeking that little bit of extra help from our communities.

“You can often spot a criminal group by the fact that they use aggressive and intimidating behaviour against very vulnerable people in order to protect their criminal activity.”

Sgt Dave Clarke said all information will be treated seriously and with utmost confidence.

He said people will not be asked to make statements or give evidence in court.

Sgt Clark added: “One tactic is to look at the very small offences, which reveal bigger offences eventually leading to their downfall.

“Our Chief Constable, Mr Barton, constantly reminds us that one of the biggest criminals in American history, Al Capone was sent to prison for tax evasion.

“People who give us information also have to be patient whilst we build up enough evidence to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

“We just need to find that one loose thread to start picking away at the seam and before you know it, everything starts to fall apart within their criminal network.”

Durham Constabulary’s non-emergency number is 101.