Force to put more neighbourhood officers on beat
GettyA police force has said it expects to have 19 extra neighbourhood officers on patrol by the end of the financial year.
Durham Police said the officers would be joined by a further 14 new police community support officers (PCSOs), who have just started their training, across County Durham and Darlington.
Chief Constable Rachel Bacon said "visible policing" made a real difference to whether people felt safe or not in their local area.
"Confidence in policing is built on knowing your own local officers, knowing they are looking out for you and knowing you can feel safe in your own home," she said.
She said there was "more to do" but the force was going in "the right direction".
As of September 2025, the latest Home Office statistics available, Durham Police had 164 police officers in neighbourhood officer roles and 114 PCSOs.
The figures include those in training.