A NEW crime-busting team in North-West Durham say its members have made a great start.

Derwentside Police set up a six-man divisional response unit to tackle crime, in partnership with Derwentside District Council.

The team specialises in revisiting crimes where a suspect had not been arrested at the time of the offence.

In two weeks, officers have arrested ten people in connection with offences ranging from tyre slashings to growing cannabis.

Det Sgt Paul D'eath, who heads the unit, said: "We are very pleased with the start we have made. It is satisfying to clear up so many offences so quickly.

"Although it is distressing for people to be the victims of crime in the first place, it makes them feel a lot better to know someone will be brought to justice. We will continue our endeavours and look forward to more arrests in the near future."

The team raided a house in Consett, on Monday, and arrested and charged an 18-year-old man on suspicion of cultivating cannabis plants.

His mother was arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs, but was released without charge.

On Saturday, May 10, officers swooped on the Royal pub in Stanley, and arrested two people on suspicion of theft of clothes from Asda in Stanley and possession of drugs.

The team has celebrated its first success in court, after a 15-year-old boy from the Stanley area admitted two offences of tyre slashing and asked for 13 more to be taken into consideration.

All of them related to a spate of attacks in the New Kyo area over the May Day Bank Holiday.

Five youths were arrested after a burglary at Tanfield School. Three were later released without charge.