MOBILE cameras will soon be in use around Gateshead enabling police to target problem areas.

Funded by Communities Against Drugs, the two cameras will be used throughout Gateshead West and East area commands.

Gateshead Council is fitting brackets to lampposts in areas identified as most likely to need the cameras. Initially, there will be ten sites in both Gateshead West and East.

PC John Marsden, a crime prevention officer at Gateshead West area command, said local intelligence and analysis of crime figures had helped decide where the brackets were put.

PC Marsden said: "We will be able to monitor the cameras from a car up to a mile from the camera's site.

"We can use the cameras for many things, including disorder and alcohol and drug-related problems, tackling issues which although not always related to crime, do affect people's quality of life."

PC Marsden said police relied on the public reporting incidents to them so they knew where to put the cameras.