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NE of the new methods to tackle crime and disorder being tried by police in Warrington gets its debut this week.

Whitecross residents were meeting on Wednesday night as the Warrington Guardian went to press at the town's first community action meeting (CAM).

The scheme, being piloted across Cheshire, will give neighbours the chance to vote for which particular issue is the biggest problem in the area.

The meeting follows a walk around the area held two weeks ago which identified areas of criminal damage, vandalism and graffiti.

Tony Davidson, community action team officer, said: "If there is a particular issue affecting where you live, whether its vandalism or anti-social behaviour, it is important you take your chance to vote for that issue to become our priority."

Mrs Blears praised the scheme as being the model of policing for the future.

She said: "It is about asking local people what is important to them and calling them into a meeting to give them the chance to make decisions.

"And then calling the meeting back and saying what do you want to do about it?

"That is accountability. And we will keep going back until we have sorted it out.

"If people come to us and say this is a drugs den, we can get a warrant and search it. And we will keep searching until that nuisance is removed.

"It is important to build the confidence that the police are working for them and are going to protect them."

Superintendent of Warrington Police, Julia Clayton, told the Warrington Guardian that it was a scheme that could be extended across the rest of the borough.