Hartlepool United Football Club has joined in the battle against crime by urging people to sign-up to the biggest crime-fighting network across the town.

Pools are backing Ringmaster, a computer based system that gives members free crime information about where they live either by text message, mobile telephone, home telephone, or email.

Pools donated a signed First Team shirt in order to try and attract more subscriptions and Jamie McCunnie was on hand to present the shirt.

Russ Green , Chief Executive of Hartlepool United said: "Anything that helps the people of Hartlepool feel safer can only be a good thing "We're delighted to give our support to this fantastic system and hope that it proves a huge success."

Angela Storm from the Safer Hartlepool Partnership said: "It's great that a club like Pools recognises the importance of Ringmaster in keeping crime down across the town.

"The system is very informal and there is no work to be done as a member. We currently have around 3000 members and hope that the giveaway drives people to join and help to keep their town a safe and attractive place to live."

Ringmaster is managed by the Safer Hartlepool Partnership for Cleveland Police and was launched in September 2007 with the aim of getting 10,000 members by the end of this year.

Every member of the system will be put into a draw to win the signed memorabilia with the winning member announced on Wednesday 27th February.

New members who join before 27th February will also be given the chance to win.