News Release
If you see it, say it in South Tyneside
Dated: 12 Nov 2009
If you "see it, say it" - that's the message from police in South Tyneside.
Officers are asking borough residents to come forward to report any suspicious activity and not to keep it to themselves. This can range from an unfamiliar person looking into a neighbour's home, strangers hanging round a school or someone walking the streets in the middle of the night.
Contacting police with information could put prevent an incident or crime taking place and could even save someone's life, as was shown recently.
A South Tyneside resident alerted police about an elderly man wandering the streets of Jarrow during the night and officers were able to arrange for the man to be taken to hospital.
A sneak thief was also stopped in his tracks after a resident contacted police to say their door handle had been tried at 2am. Police attended the scene and a man was later arrested.
Two teenagers recently appeared in court charged with burglary and criminal damage after a caller alerted police to youngsters in the grounds of a South Tyneside school.
Sergeant Sam Rennison, part of the Neighbourhood Policing Team which covers Jarrow and the driving force behind the initiative, said: "If people see suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods I would ask them to pick up the phone and let us know.
"The call about the elderly man could have saved his life. By letting us know about people wandering the streets late at night, you could help us find someone who may be particularly vulnerable.
"You could also prevent someone intent on committing a crime. With help from residents we can ensure offenders are caught quickly or crimes are prevented.
"The message is - if you see it, say it."
People can contact police in South Tyneside on 03456 043 043. Calls can be made anonymously and callers can request for an officer not to come to their homes.
People can also contact their local neighbourhood officers by visiting the Northumbria Police website - www.northumbria.police.uk - or alternatively via email:
- For Jarrow and Hebburn - jarrowhebburn.npt@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
- For East Shields, Boldon, Cleadon and Whitburn - escw-styneside.npt@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
- For Riverside and West Shields - wsr-styneside.npt@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
Sgt Sam Rennison with the poster as part of the See it, Say it initiative