POLICE tackling anti-social behaviour near to Bishop Auckland town centre have opened a new base in the hospital.

The new base offers an out-of-hours service at Bishop Auckland Hospital, on Cockton Hill Road, and it aims to make the police more accessible to the public.

It is also hoped that the base, located on the ground floor of the hospital, will allow people to speak to the police more easily.

It will also allow the officers to deal with any anti-social incidents at the hospital in relation to youths and abusive patients.

There have been some incidents in the past where officers have been called to the hospital.

PC Vicky Coxon and PCSO Ian Feldon, of Bishop Auckland Police, will man the office on their regular patrols of the area.

The base will not be opened at set times and the officers will just drop in when they are on patrol and the need arises.

It is proposed to open the office on regular days and times at some point in the future but the dates and times have still to be worked out.

PC Coxon said: “This is an excellent facility which allows us to have more contact with the public, while still remaining visible within the community.

“We have tea and coffee making facilities and when our door is open we are happy to have a chat and help with any problems you need to discuss.

“We are over the moon with the working relationship we have established in the hospital and with security staff.

“By working together we have already managed to reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour and crime in and around the immediate area.”