FORMER police chief Ray Mallon today vowed to cut crime by 15% in Middlesbrough over the next year.

Mr Mallon launched a series of measures to "replace fear with hope' - his much vaunted crime strategy drawn up since be came Mayor earlier this year.'

The former detective superintendent, who was suspended from his role as head of Middlesbrough CID in 1997, said his schemes would free the town centre of "so-called beggars", cut crime in car parks and eliminate prostitution from the streets.

To do that he intends to boost the number of street wardens from 14 to 90, creating the largest community protection force in the country.