BEGGARS will be cleared from the streets of a town within a year, the mayor has pledged.

A year after Ray Mallon was elected and promised to rid Middlesbrough of the problem, the number of people begging has been cut from 24 to four.

And at a briefing to discuss the Middlesbrough's successful crime-reduction techniques, the former detective made a fresh pledge.

He said: "There are only four now, and in the next 12 months there won't be any.

"Our beggars are not homeless, they are criminals who affect retail in the town and affect the economy by putting people off coming here.

"The police can assist in targeting beggars and that is an example of how business can actually be enhanced by police action."

Mr Mallon was joined at the briefing by Middlesbrough Police district commander Dave Lumb and Home Office crime reduction director Alan Clark.

Mr Clark told how Middlesbrough has become one of the safest places in England and Wales with a fall in overall recorded crime of 3.7 per cent, and a 22 per cent drop in house burglaries.

Mr Mallon said: "It is important we maintain the momentum and drive down the crime rate still further.

"The reduction in burglaries means that in the past 12 months there have been 1,200 fewer households which have been the victims of a break-in. That fact alone highlights the amount of distress and expense we have helped save the people of Middlesbrough."

Developments in the town include the recruitment of 50 street wardens who now respond to 1,000 calls a month and free up police resources to deal with crime.

There are also 14 extra police offices in areas of town, which are part of the neighbourhood renewal programme.

Police and Middlesbrough Council have secured ten anti-social behaviour orders against offenders and 200 more have had to sign up to acceptable behaviour contracts.

Chief Superintendent Lumb said: "I hope that this news will provide reassurance to local people that our efforts to make their homes and neighbourhoods safer are beginning to show results."

To combat the problem of beggars bothering shoppers, more police and community warden patrols were introduced and information packs were handed out to warn people persistently found in the street they face court.

Boxes were also placed in shops to allow people to give direct to homeless charities.