A group formed to look at ways of catching more offenders was launched this week.
The County Durham and Darlington Criminal Justice Board (CJB) met at Hardwick Hall, near Sedgefield.
Representatives of the police, courts, probation service and other bodies, met for the first time to discuss the new board's priorities. These include tackling persistent criminals, responding to the needs of victims and witnesses and promoting rehabilitation of offenders.
Chief Inspector Graham Hall, Durham Constabulary's head of community justice, said: "The reforms to the criminal justice system should improve clear-up rates, deal more effectively with persistent offenders and place more emphasis on the needs of victims and witnesses."
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