Police in Easington are working closure with the community

The Home Office says the Easington area is to be targeted, along with other deprived areas of Britain, including Manchester and Nottingham.

Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth said Durham Police will get more help to work with local communities to tackle the area's so-called yob culture.

Easington is to be designated a policing priority area, and as such will be eligible for at least �250,000 in extra funding.

Chief Superintendent Trevor Watson, Durham Police's divisional commander for the Easington area, said: "Policing priority areas (PPA) are chosen on the basis of being amongst the most deprived areas in the country.

"In Easington we do have specific levels of deprivation across the whole district.

"But we also have in place excellent partnership arrangements with a number of agencies, all of which are committed to improving the quality of life for those who live work and invest in Easington.

'Expert support'

"The challenge for us is now to demonstrate what can be further achieved through these partnership arrangements.

"We are currently working hard to establish exactly which specific location in the district would benefit most from the PPA initiative.

"I am confident we will respond to this opportunity."

Mr Ainsworth added: "It is vital that neighbourhoods facing particular difficulties receive the expert advice and support they need.

"As part of our police reform programme, we have delivered the highest number of police officers ever and more than 1,000 community support officers to provide high visibility policing, to raise public reassurance and reduce crime.

"But the police cannot win the fight against crime and nuisance behaviour alone.

"It is vital that all of us support local partnerships between police, public and other agencies to bring about real change in the way we tackle local issues together to strengthen our communities."