The projects are for defined areas like estates or streets.

Home Secretary David Blunkett announced �700,000 for 14 new Policing Priority Areas including projects in Hartlepool and in Barrow.

The funding will mean partnerships between police, residents, councils and drug action teams.

There will be �50,000 for each project plus limited additional funding for specific purposes.

'Stronger connections'

Mr Blunkett said: "As part of our police reform programme, we have seen communities becoming involved in how their police service operates.

"Crime overall has fallen and there are more police officers than ever before.

"But I want to see deeper, stronger connections developing between police and communities across the country."

There is already a Policing Priority Area project in Easington, County Durham.

The projects are for closely defined areas, which can be estates or streets.