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Crime is always one of the toughest topics to cover politically as there are so many different statistics that can prove so many different points.

And then there is the fear of crime, and whether it bears any relation to the actual figures.

So is it real crime or just the fear of it that's ?

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For the money, they'll provide an instant call-out service to homes and businesses and patrol areas to keep them safe.

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They say the company is playing on people's unfounded fears, when in reality crime is falling in Darlington.

And local Labour councillors are concerned that a kind of two tier policing might emerge from this - the standard police service for those who can't afford to pay, and the top up from the security firm from those who can.

There were plenty of lively opinions from our politicians on the Politics Show today as they fought over some of the law and order ground that may well influence the results of the election.

And Labour is sensitive on the issue. It's been keen to take a hard line ever since Tony Blair talked about being tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime.

It's been part of their strategy for outflanking the Conservatives, and in by-elections they're often keen to paint the Lib Dems as being soft on the issue.

So the publicity surrounding Sparta Security is dangerous, as is .

He said some forces' failure to tackle low level anti-social behaviour was damaging public confidence in the police.

In response, .

But .

He rated confidence in the police as good in Durham, Cleveland, Northumbria and Cumbria. In North Yorkshire it was fair.

Cleveland, Cumbria and Northumbria also scored good marks for local policing, Durham and North Yorkshire fair.

But of course all sorts of statistics will be bandied about by all the parties in the next few weeks as they compete to show who can make us feel safe.

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