A CAMPAIGN to crack down on anti-social behaviour launched two years ago in County Durham will be judged by the public in the force's biggest survey.

Durham Constabulary is giving 6,000 households across the county the chance to comment on issues including anti-social behaviour, police visibility, litter and graffiti at the Street Safe campaign's second anniversary.

Police bosses are hoping that the results of the survey, which will be sent to randomly selected houses, will reflect anecdotal evidence which they say has been positive across the county. Results are due to be published next month.

The campaign has targeted graffiti, vandalism, drugs and alcohol-related issues, aiming to address the fear and perception of crime in communities across the county.

Successes have included Ferryhill, where officers were temporarily drafted in from across the county to target hot-spots in the town, leading to a 60 per cent drop in reported anti-social behaviour incidents.

Over the past two years, Newton Aycliffe has benefited from an Off-Licence Watch Scheme and police in Bishop Auckland have targeted problems of discarded needles and nuisance caused by off-road biking in the Eldon Road area.

As it moves into its third year, the force is launching neighbourhood policing teams in Darlington, who will be made up of police constables, beat bobbies, community support officers and special constables.

They will work with Darlington Borough Council wardens, the council's anti-social behaviour unit, environmental health and housing officers to address anti-social behaviour at all levels.

Acting Chief Inspector Chris Reeves said: "The neighbourhood partnership will be the best in the country because of the excellent day-by-day working relationship that the police have with the statutory agencies and the local community.

"The community are the eyes and ears of the force. Without them on board, policing effectively is very, very difficult."

Assistant Chief Constable Michael Banks said the force had a record number of front-line officers and was aiming to build on their successes.

"By tackling the anti-social behaviour, low-level crime and disorder which blights communities we will continue to fight fear of crime across the force area."