Cleveland's chief constable, Sean price, has promised to do more

Cleveland's top police officer, Sean Price, made the pledge to dozens of angry residents who attended a public meeting in Middlesbrough.

The meeting, which was also attended by former senior police officer-turned mayor Ray Mallon, heard from residents who said they had "had enough" of drug crime and street prostitution.

Some people said the visible presence of police officers was virtually "non-existent" in some areas.

But Mr Price, who took his post in March 2003, said that some progress in tackling crime had been made, "much more needed to be done".

He said: "People will remember that when I first arrived here, I said drugs were going to be my absolute priority.

"I hope people will see from my action while I have been here, that I have carried that through.

"So I share the concerns of people and there will be a lot more happening than we have done already.

Major convictions

"On the prostitution front, we are national leaders in how we try and deal with this problem.

"But we are still not doing enough.

"I want other agencies working with us, to get this other scourge off our streets, because it really starting to upset people."

June Goodchild, chair of Easterside and Saltersgill community council, said she wanted to see more police on the streets.

She said: "The last time I saw any police in our area, it was in a car and they just drove straight through.

"We need to see more police on the streets."

The Cleveland force has carried out several high-profile anti-drug operations, which have resulted in major convictions for drug dealing.

It has also clamped down on street prostitution, with a campaign of naming and shaming kerb crawlers who travel to Middlesbrough from outside the Teesside area.