News from Northumbria Police
North Shields - Winter 2009
Neighbourhood Inspector:
Insp Geoff Cross
Welcome to the first e newsletter for North Shields Neighbourhood Policing Team for 2009. As always we've had a busy few months since our last edition. Our focus is tackling the issues that matter most to local people, making them our policing priorities.
Insp Geoff Cross
Welcome to the first e newsletter for North Shields Neighbourhood Policing Team for 2009. As always we've had a busy few months since our last edition. Our focus is tackling the issues that matter most to local people, making them our policing priorities.
This includes youth disorder and anti-social behaviour. Our latest force campaign is also focusing on these issues and we are looking to divert young people away from crime where possible. We welcome the views of local people about this work.
At the end of last year we were also focusing on crime prevention to prevent burglary, purse thefts and other types of crime. We've recently carried out another Operation Iron to tackle crime issues in a particular area with our partners.This work is continuing to help us to keep reducing crime further.
More details below about these items.
Neighbourhood Officers
To contact your Neighbourhood Policing Team call: 03456 043 043 ext 69191
You can also contact us using our on-line form if you wish to provide any feedback on this newsletter or if you wish to contact your Neighbourhood Beat Manager with any policing issues.
You can see who your Neighbourhood Policing Team are by visiting the Northumbria Police website.
Crime Figures
Crime has again fallen in the North Shields area for the period October 1, to December 31, 2009, with a 32% reduction compared with the same period in 2008.
This means there were 336 fewer victims of crime, down from 1,064 offences for the three month period last year compared to 728 offences in the most recent period.
This is very good news for local people, as crime across the board has reduced and I hope this makes you feel safer.
In more detail, total vehicle crime has reduced by 70% down from 187 offences to 57 reported offences, house burglary is down by 61%, from 46 crimes to 18, and violent crime is down by 20% from 197 offences to 158 reported crimes, again over the same three month period.
Youth anti-social behaviour is slightly down from 465 offences to 461 reported, a reduction of 1% so we are focusing on improving this further over the coming weeks.
New Force Campaign
Although crime is continuing to fall, police realise that there are issues in communities many people feel strongly about - particularly youth crime and anti-social behaviour.
To help to address this, police have been tackling the problem at an early stage to prevent young people from becoming involved in crime.
Neighbourhood teams have been working closely with schools, councils, youth groups and other partners to support young people and find activities for them to get involved in outside school.
You can find out more about this initiative by logging onto our force website www.northumbria.police.uk from the end of February.
Community Meetings
Look out for the Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meetings across North Tyneside, where members of the community are invited to meet with their local officers and discuss any policing concerns.
These meetings support the Policing Pledge to make sure residents know who their local officer is and how to contact them.
These meetings support the Policing Pledge to make sure residents know who their local officer is and how to contact them.
Representatives from the local authority will also be present to deal with your queries.
The next PACT meetings are:
The next PACT meetings are:
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 from 1pm to 2pm at Balkwell Community Welfare Hut, Heaton Terrace, North Shields with Inspector Geoff Cross, PC Steve Tunmore, PC Iain Grant and CSO Craig Brown
Saturday, April 3, 2010 from 10am to 11am at Balkwell Community Welfare Hut, Heaton Terrace, North Shields
with Inspector Geoff Cross, PC Steven Dickson, PC Ian Moss and CSO Sarah-jayne Morrison
with Inspector Geoff Cross, PC Steven Dickson, PC Ian Moss and CSO Sarah-jayne Morrison
We do welcome your feedback on this newsletter or on other policing matters. If you are unable to attend one of our public meetings you can email or ring the policing team direct.
If you are unable to attend one of our public meetings you can email or ring the policing team direct.
Tackling issues communities care about
We've listened and we've taken action - that's the message from Northumbria Police as it continues working to tackle the problems which cause people concern.
Although crime is continuing to fall, police realise that there are issues in communities many people feel strongly about - particularly youth crime and anti-social behaviour.
To address this, police have been tackling the problem at an early stage to prevent young people from becoming involved in crime.
Neighbourhood teams have been working closely with schools, councils, youth groups and other partners to support young people and find activities for them to get involved in outside school.
One example involved police and North Tyneside Council gaining funding from the government's Positive Activities for Young People Programme, to support extra youth club sessions at Avon Avenue on the Meadowell, North Shields.
The sessions, which officers attend, are for under 13s, on Friday and Saturday evenings. The initiative also funds more police patrols in the area to reassure the community and reduce crime and disorder.
The scheme is helping to break down barriers between the young people and officers and helping police get to know them better. It's also had positive feedback from local residents.
North Tyneside Area Commander Chief Superintendent Gary Calvert said: "We're listening to the issues people tell us concern them and taking action.
"We know youth crime and anti-social behaviour is something people want to see addressed and we've been taking a number of steps to tackle it.
"Where necessary we're increasing our activity to target young offenders, as a small minority will not be allowed to spoil the quality of life for everyone else.
"Across the borough we've been working with partner organisations to set up activities to help young people stay away from crime and provide them with more constructive activities. Often these benefit entire communities in different ways.
"We'd welcome feedback from residents on what kind of activities they'd like to see in their neighbourhoods."
Sea cadets get ship-shape police minibus
A gift of transport from Northumbria Police has once again helped North Shields Sea Cadets to stay afloat.The force has supplied the 25 strong cadet unit with a police van previously used by officers in Newcastle.
Although the four-year-old vehicle has come to the end of it's police life - there is still plenty of mileage left in it for the cadets.
Police handed over the unit's first minibus ten years ago, which now needs replacing.
The cadets wrote to the Chief Constable asking if the group could receive a newer vehicle and were extremely pleased when Mr Craik agreed to help.
The 15 seat Ford Transit minibus has now been cleaned, serviced, given a full MOT, and smart paintwork before being presented to the cadets.
The 15 seat Ford Transit minibus has now been cleaned, serviced, given a full MOT, and smart paintwork before being presented to the cadets.
Chief Inspector Max Black said: "I'm very pleased to hand over this vehicle on behalf of Northumbria Police. This is a very deserving cause, run by volunteers, which provides great activities and skills to young people across North Tyneside. It's good to see this vehicle being put to good use."
North Shields Sea Cadets Treasurer Wayne Coupland said: "I'd like to thank Northumbria Police for their generosity in once again giving a vehicle to us.
"We have a thriving Sea Cadets Unit which has been running for 11 years. Our unit also has a marching band which performs at numerous events throughout the year, so a minibus is essential to get the cadets and their instruments to these events."
Pictured left to right is Chief Inspector Max Black, with Sea Cadets and their Commanding Officer Mark Clissold, Treasurer Wayne Coupland and Chairperson Christopher Duffy
Operation Iron gets results
Operation Iron has resulted in 11 arrests during the initiative for offences including drugs, assault and criminal damage.Neighbourhood officers carried out additional patrols, in the Elsdon Terrace and surrounding areas in November.
They also took part in a community clean up with North Tyneside Council which saw large quantities of rubbish removed. One youth removed graffiti as part of a community resolution to make amends for causing it in the area.
Sergeant Adrian Smiles said: "This week-long operation with targeted activities including additional uniform patrols with our partners does make a difference in our communities. Our efforts are also aimed at physically improving the local area for local residents, as well as making arrests.
"We have been talking to local people, listening to their views and responding to their concerns during the operation."
Officers also held a community meeting at Norham Community School which had a big turnout from the local community, as well as a crime prevention day at Tesco's on Norham Road.
PC Steve Dickson, Neighbourhood Beat Manager for the area said: "This event was well attended by members of the public and we received a lot of positive feedback about local policing. There were also some concerns raised by the community which we will act upon."
PC Dickson and his colleague PC Ian Moss, and Community Support Officer Sarah-Jayne Morrison, hold regular meetings for the community on the first Monday of every month at Norham High School between 10am -11.30am. All residents of the area are welcome to attend.
Pictured are PC Julie Waller and CSO Sarah-Jayne Morrison at Tesco's
Police find drugs and stolen bike
Officers recovered drugs and a stolen bicycle during a house search in the New York area. Neighbourhood officers acting on community concerns carried out the search warrant where they seized a quantity of Cannabis bush valued at approximately £3,000.
A 27-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and cautioned for handling stolen goods.
Neighbourhood Sergeant Adrian Smiles said: "Officers acting on information from the community went to a house in New York and found what appeared to be a fairly sophisticated cannabis farm. I would urge all landlords to regularly check their premises and contact the police should they have any suspicions about their tenants on 03456 0443 043 ext 69191."
During the same house search officers found a mountain bike which aroused their suspicions.
PC Grant and his colleague Community Support Officer Craig Brown conducted a number of enquiries and found the bike had been reported stolen by a 15-year-old paper lad during his delivery round.
The schoolboy came along to North Shields police station and was reunited with his bike after officers had security marked it. PC Grant, who patrols the Meadowell Estate and is a keen mountain biker, said: "When I saw this expensive mountain bike I suspected it was stolen. Our suspicions were quickly confirmed and the bike has now been reunited with its rightful owner.
I would urge everyone who has a bike to have it security marked and keep it locked at all times."
Pictured drugs warrant being executed
Police get on the right track to check railway line disorder
Police are getting on the right track to tackle youth disorder and underage drinking at Stephenson Railway in North Shields. Local neighbourhood officers were called to the railway, staffed by rail enthusiasts, who had found the area a magnet for underage youths to congregate and drink.
Neighbourhood Sergeant Adrian Smiles said: "We have had several calls from nearby residents in Percy Main who are concerned about disorder in this area.
"Railways are not safe places for pedestrians to wander around, particularly children who have been drinking alcohol.
They are dangerous places and people found trespassing on them could face a fine up to £1,000.
"We have also visited local shops selling alcohol and reminded them of their responsibilities not to sell alcohol to those under 18s and the problem of adults buying alcohol on behalf of children."
"We are responding to the concerns of residents and are carrying out extra patrols to the area to prevent disorder and to deter disorder."
The volunteer staff at the museum have been advising officers about safety issues around trains and have also agreed to improve warning signs and access to the railway to make the area safer.
Cllr Glynis Barrie, Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safer Neighbourhoods, said: "We fully support this work by Northumbria Police to ensure North Tyneside remains safe for all of its residents."
Pictured are PC Ivan Hart and CSO Kian Mokhtary at the Stephenson Railway Museum with railway staff
Crime fighting packs spread the message
Police are spreading the crime prevention message as a scheme to cut break-ins gets extended. Home Office "Secure your Home" packs have been delivered to burglary victims across the borough over recent months - and now police will also be calling at nearby householders to pass on the information. Although the number of house burglaries is continuing to fall in North Tyneside police understand it is a very distressing crime and want to do everything they can to help victims as well as those living nearby.
The packs contain a wide variety of crime prevention advice, information on Neighbourhood Watch schemes and vouchers for DIY stores allowing people to upgrade their security at a discounted price.
Detective Chief Inspector Mick Paterson, of North Tyneside area command said: "These packs have proved helpful to burglary victims and it is important people living nearby also have access to good, practical crime prevention advice. "Now, when officers are carrying out their house to house enquiries following a crime they will be distributing the home security packs to nearby homeowners."
Detective Chief Inspector Mick Paterson, of North Tyneside area command said: "These packs have proved helpful to burglary victims and it is important people living nearby also have access to good, practical crime prevention advice. "Now, when officers are carrying out their house to house enquiries following a crime they will be distributing the home security packs to nearby homeowners."
Pictured Detective Chief Inspector Mick Paterson with the burglary pack
Find out more
To contact your Neighbourhood Policing Team call: 03456 043 043 ext 69191 or contact us by Emailif you wish to provide any feedback on this newsletter or if you wish to contact your Neighbourhood Beat Manager with any policing issues.