Morpeth

Youth related and vehicular anti-social behaviour in the Morpeth and Ponteland

We continue to work closely with Community Safety Officers and local schools to address anti-social behaviour (ASB) through a combination of enforcement, prevention, and early intervention. This partnership approach enables us to identify issues quickly, support those at risk of becoming involved in ASB, and take appropriate action where necessary.

We also maintain a strong working relationship with Asset Watch, which operates the town centre CCTV network. This collaboration enables us to secure evidence relating to reported incidents, identify those responsible, and support proportionate enforcement action where appropriate.

These collective efforts are having a positive impact, with both youth-related ASB and alcohol-related ASB showing a downward trend in reported incidents in Morpeth and Ponteland.

Despite this progress, tackling ASB remains a key priority, and we remain committed to working with our partners to further reduce offending, improve community safety, and enhance public confidence.

Retail Crime in Morpeth and Ponteland

Shop theft remains a key policing priority in Morpeth and Ponteland. We continue to work closely with retailers and partner agencies to prevent offending, identify offenders, and bring those responsible to justice. Through targeted enforcement, proactive patrols, and strong engagement with local businesses, officers are focused on reducing the impact of retail crime across the town.

The continued expansion of the Shop Watch radio network has strengthened communication between retailers and police, enabling the swift sharing of information and improving response times to incidents. This has supported the identification and arrest of offenders, as well as the recovery of stolen property.

Officers maintain a visible presence in the town centre, particularly during peak trading periods, while ongoing engagement with businesses helps improve crime reporting, crime prevention measures, and the timely submission of CCTV evidence.

These combined efforts have contributed to a downward trend in reported shop theft offences, alongside positive outcomes through arrests, charges, and prosecutions. As the Christmas period approaches, we will further intensify our activity through enhanced patrols and targeted operations to support retailers, deter offenders, and help keep Morpeth a safe place to work, shop, and visit.

Off Road and E-bikes in Morpeth and Ponteland

Off-road bikes and illegally used e-bikes remain a priority concern across Morpeth and Ponteland, particularly where their use causes anti-social behaviour, poses a risk to public safety, or impacts on the enjoyment of public spaces. We continue to tackle this issue through a combination of enforcement, intelligence-led activity, and partnership working.

Officers regularly conduct targeted patrols in identified hotspot areas and have continued to seize and remove bikes being used unlawfully. Reports from residents, combined with intelligence gathered by officers and footage from the Asset Watch, have helped identify offenders, support investigations, and provide evidence for enforcement action.

Where offences are identified, robust action is taken. This includes dealing with offenders for a range of traffic-related offences, issuing warnings where appropriate, seizing vehicles, and progressing prosecutions when evidential thresholds are met. Close collaboration with local authorities, housing providers, and community partners further strengthens our ability to address repeat offending.

These combined efforts have contributed to a reduction in reports relating to the nuisance use of off-road bikes and illegal e-bikes across Morpeth and Ponteland. However, we recognise the significant impact this behaviour can have on community confidence and safety. As a result, we will continue to utilise targeted operations, CCTV opportunities, proactive bike seizures, and enforcement of road traffic legislation to further reduce offending and keep our communities safe.