ONE of the region's most high-profile chief constables has admitted that a series of blunders have prevented people receiving police help.

Durham Police's senior officer, Paul Garvin, said he held his hands up to the organisational failure that had blighted the introduction of a communications centre.

The facility in Bishop Auckland was established earlier this year to serve the south of the county, replacing the previous system of calls being taken by staff at divisional police stations.

The chief constable conceded the centre had suffered serious problems.

However, he vowed that more staff would be recruited and that new systems would be put in place to enhance the service.

Mr Garvin made several frank admissions as he addressed councillors in Darlington, who had called for a meeting with him after elderly residents in the town were subjected to a distressing attack.

In September, wardens at Mayflower Court said they called police three times as youths hurled stones at the complex, but were told officers were too busy to attend.

Mr Garvin said: "There have been some real horror stories in terms of how we have dealt with incidents. I put my hands up to that -that is an organisational failure.

"Some calls have been badly handled by the communications room, people have not been getting through or have been faced with long queues.

"Sometimes our staff have not had the right attitude and been responsive to members of the public, sometimes we have not asked the right questions to understand what the incident is all about.

"Sometimes we have not prioritised incidents in the right way, but worst of all is when call handlers turn round to a member of the public and say 'I'm sorry, we haven't any resources' -that is totally unacceptable.

"Sometimes our managers have let too many people go on leave and have not had enough people on shift for the number of calls expected."

Despite the troubles, Mr Garvin said the force was determined to deliver a better service by next summer.