AN MP has welcomed news that a scheme to drive down crime, tested on Teesside, is to copied across the country.

The Government has pledged to provide every community in Britain with a dedicated neighbourhood policing team by 2008.

Stockton South MP Dari Taylor said: "We have seen right here in Stockton how neighbourhood policing can and does work. In the Parkfield and Mill Lane area of my constituency, we have had a dedicated neighbourhood policing team in place since the beginning of 2003 and we have seen a 30 per cent reduction in burglaries and £14,000 worth of drugs seized.

"The benefits are clear for all to see."

The Government is making £340m available to put 24,000 police community support officers on Britain's streets by 2007 and 2008 to help tackle crime and disorder.

Mrs Taylor said: "The results in the Parkfield area have been astounding and I can only re-state how pleased I am that the Government has seen how effective local schemes like ours have been."