Neighbourhood priorities
Northumbria Police aims to meet our commitment to you.
The following Neighbourhood priorities relate to your area:
1. January 2013: Drunkenness and rowdy behaviour in public places.
What you told us
There has been an increase in the number of reports about disorder caused by groups of drunken men in the Shambles, New Road and around the town walls.
What we are doing about it
All patrol officers, neighbourhood teams and CCTV staff are monitoring these areas. Officers will seize alcohol, record the details of the people involved and take action in relation to any identified offences.
Keeping you informed
A neighbourhood officer is co-ordinating the evidence and works with partners from Berwick Housing and Northumberland Council Safer Communities Department.
The selected targets are the subject of fortnightly meetings where their activity over the two weeks is recorded and actions are raised in response.
Acceptable Behaviour Agreements were issued to all the targets and three of the men have breached their agreements. As a result of these breaches, two of the men have been issued with CRASBOs (Crime Related Anti-Social Behaviour Orders) at Berwick Magistrates Court. An application for a third is with the court now.
The conditions they must comply with are:
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They must not be in possession, in any public place, of any unsealed alcohol.
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They must not be in the company of anyone possessing such items in a public place.
This order lasts for two years and if the conditions are breached the men can be arrested.
As a direct result of this activity there has been a reduction in anti-social behaviour in Berwick Town, Spittal and Tweedmouth.
Other people are still being monitored by officers and this has resulted in a reduction in anti-social behaviour which has previously had a negative impact on Berwick.
2. January 2013: Speeding and dangerous driving.
What you told us
There is an ongoing issue of speeding in towns and villages throughout the sector which has been raised in the Safer Communities Survey.
What we are doing about it
There have been targeted uniformed patrols as well as engagement with and enforcement against drivers in the relevant areas.
We also carry out Community Speedwatch - an operation where officers take speed monitoring equipment to identified locations and monitor traffic.
Motorists found committing offences are dealt with appropriately. This operation is repeated on a regular basis at different locations based on information provided by members of the community.
Speed Ace has been deployed at locations where speeding is a community concern. Eight endorsable fixed penalty notices have been issued and 14 drivers have been required to produce documentation. Eight summons have been issued for motoring offences and there has been 11 arrests for drink driving.
There have been prosecutions for offences including drink driving, speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, driving without insurance and using red diesel.
In addition to these prosecutions, a number of motorists with no previous motoring offences, have received advice and written notifications about speeding. Those notifications are recorded and repeat offenders could face prosecution if they continue to speed.