VIGILANT residents are helping police cut burglaries, target drug offenders and reduce crime across south Holderness.

House break-ins have been slashed by a third, with just 68 burglaries in Withernsea, Hedon and the surrounding villages in 12 months.

The targeting of drug dealers, assisted by tip-offs from the public, has seen the number of offences dealt with rise by 61 per cent, to 71 cases.

Police say the public are playing their part, as residents in close-knit communities are highly likely to spot strangers acting suspiciously, or see known offenders engaging in criminal activity.

Inspector Andy Woodhead, who is in charge of neighbourhood policing in the 90 square mile area, said year-on-year figures showed burglaries had been cut by 34 per cent.

He said: "Particularly in some of the smaller villages, everyone knows each other and if they see someone who is not from the area acting suspiciously they will report it.

"We have targeted a lot of known burglars, who are not always from the Holderness area but who travel in from other areas, including Hull and North Yorkshire.

"There is a lot of intelligence on burglars and there is a lot of intelligence-led policing to catch offenders."

Success in cracking down on drugs has seen police record a 100 per cent detection rate for 46 offences in Hedon and 25 offences in Withernsea between January and December 2008.

Insp Woodhead said: "I would not say drugs are a massive problem, but you don't need more than a couple of dealers in a small town like Withernsea to create a bad impression."

The Mail reported last month how residents at Withernsea had taken a stand and helped convict cocaine dealer Kevin Gray, 51, of Hull Road, for three years and three months.

Insp Woodhead said: "Taking someone out for three years has sent a positive ripple across the town that police will arrest these people.

"I won't say they won't be replaced by another drug dealer, but people will think twice when they see someone in the town locked up for drugs offences."

Crime overall reduced by six per cent last year, with a total of 1,124 offences in the Hedon area and 1,042 crimes in the Withernsea area.