A CITIZEN'S charter to reduce village crime will be copied by similar schemes around the country.

Ushaw Moor Residents' Group pioneered the Community Safety Compact and has been nominated for a leading award.

The group signed an agreement with Durham Constabulary and Durham City Council to work together to improve the quality of life for villagers. They have been developing ways to encourage people to communicate with the authorities in an attempt to tackle problems such as anti-social behaviour and drug abuse.

Police now hold regular surgeries in the village and have an information box where people can report incidents or suspicions anonymously.

Officers have also been getting involved in community activities, visiting schools and holding drug awareness sessions.

Ushaw Moor Residents' Group chairwoman Pauline Gates said: "It is about working together instead of having 'them and us'.

"The police are always willing to listen to what we have to say and they work with us to overcome problems."

The group features in a training video as part of the Government's Street Safe Scheme, which was launched by Prime Minister Tony Blair and has also been nominated for an award by the Tenant Participation Advisory service.

Mrs Gates said: "People in the village are quite happy about the fact we have monthly meetings with the police.

"I would like to see other residents' groups adopt this scheme because too often the police get a negative response from people."

The scheme has been hailed a success by all the agencies involved, and the council's Community Development Team was invited to a national conference in Blackpool to tell other local authorities how they put the plan together.

More than 60 delegates from as far afield as London, Birmingham and Manchester now look likely to follow the lead of Durham City Council.

Head of policy and community development Mike Thompson said: "To be nationally recognised is just reward for the Community Development Team's hard work and effort over the past 12 months.

"From a simple principle the team have developed a written agreement that will be a foundation for schemes like this across the country."