Week of action building on work to tackle anti-social behaviour begins

Officers are carrying out a week of dedicated action to highlight the ongoing targeted work to crackdown on anti-social behaviour – as new figures show incidents are falling.

As part of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week, activity will be carried out across all six Northumbria Police area commands.

Among the areas identified will be motorbike and other vehicle-related disorder, patrols on the region’s transport networks, targeted enforcement action against repeat ASB offenders as well as community engagement and education visits.

The activity is being carried out with the support of local authorities and transport provider Nexus, with multi-agency patrols also set to take place.

The week takes place as new figures show there has been a seven per cent fall in the number of ASB incidents force-wide and an 18 per cent drop in youth ASB in the past year.

Following the implementation of Northumbria’s dedicated motorbike ASB project Operation Capio, incidents involving those types of vehicles has fallen by six per cent, with more than 100 bikes seized. Transport ASB has dropped by 28 per cent.

Chief Superintendent Barrie Joisce, Northumbria Police’s Lead for Anti-Social Behaviour, said: “We are very encouraged by the reductions in anti-social behaviour figures and they are testament to the hard work our officers and those in our partner organisations have put in.

“But we are not complacent and that is why activity such as ASB Awareness Week is so important in retaining our focus and ensuring the public know how committed we are to dealing with the issues that matter to them.

“As a Force, we are only too aware of the detrimental impact that this type of crime can have on our communities and that is why we are determined to identify those responsible and deal with them appropriately.

“Through projects such as Operation Capio and Project Shield, we have been able to join with our partners to locate areas where ASB is prevalent quicker so that we can allocate the necessary resources and apprehend offenders.

“The implementation of our Neighbourhood Policing model, providing an extra 134 officers, has also contributed significantly to the drop in incidents.

“We are continuously looking at further, more innovative ways in which we can tackle ASB so that our region remains among the safest places in the country to live, work and visit.”

Chief Superintendent Joisce added: “As always, we rely on the assistance of you, the public, to be our eyes and ears in reporting this type of crime to us.

“If you have witnessed ASB activity in your area, do not hesitate to contact us so that we can take the appropriate action.

“Send us a direct message on social media, use the live chat on our website or go to the report forms, which are also on our website.

“Alternatively, if you’re unable to contact us via those ways, call 101.

“In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always call 999.”

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “Overall ASB figures are heading in the right direction, which we are all welcoming.

“These behaviours can really have an impact on you, your home and your community - so it’s important we take them seriously.

“Some things that can start off seeming a nuisance and they can end up very serious.

“High visibility uniformed patrols alongside partners, such as those funded by my office as part of Project Shield, are certainly having an impact.

“There are a lot of projects focusing on the prevention too – which are of equal importance.

“Youth engagement and positive diversionary activities can also play a part in getting ASB incident numbers down, helping people feel safer and communities feel stronger.

“My thanks go to our police and our local authority, community and transport partners who are putting a great deal of effort into cracking down on anti-social behaviour, not just this week but every week.”

Erika Allen, Quality, Health, Safety, Security and Environment (QHSSE) Director at Nexus, said: “Our teams are working closely with Northumbria Police to provide greater customer reassurance and reduce anti-social behaviour on Metro and wider public transport network. That will very much continue as part of ASB Awareness Week.

“The latest figures show the progress we are making and we will build on that.

“Metro is fundamentally a safe transport system and we will continue to work hard to reduce crime and low level disorder hot spots where it occurs.

“We have invested in a range of measures to improve safety and security on Metro and at the transport interchanges that we manage. 

“This includes the roll out of our dedicated security team, new CCTV, body-worn video cameras for frontline teams, and the launch of our new text alert system to allow customers to contact the Metro control room more quickly and more easily.”