A SENIOR police officer is urging residents to get more involved in monthly community meetings.

Chief Inspector Chris Reeves, neighbourhood policing manager for Darlington, is encouraging residents to attend their local monthly police and communities together (Pact) meetings, which he believes are key to tackling crime in the town.

The monthly meetings are a chance for residents to meet their local police officers, police community support officers and ward councillors to discuss and highlight neighbourhood concerns.

Residents then work together with their police officers and councillors to come up with plans to solve them.

Ch Insp Reeves said: “A good example of what Pact can do is when a group of people with a shared access to their gardens noticed that people were starting to wander into this area.

“They had no crimes but clubbed together to buy and put up a gate – this very simple action stopped potential criminals from accessing their gardens.

“We need to try and get more of this community engagement going on in Darlington.”

Pact meetings take place every month in each ward of Darlington, all members of the community are welcome.

For more information on your nearest meeting, visit durham.police.uk/local/south/darlington