Police tackle anti-social behaviour following communities' concerns

A poster that says 'we don't tolerate ASB in Blyth' Credit: Northumbria Police

Police in North Tyneside and Northumberland are responding to concerns raised by local communities by tackling anti-social behaviour.

Neighbourhood teams from Berwick and Ashington in Northumberland through to Whitley Bay in North Tyneside have been busy asking people what concerns they have where they live, and taking necessary action to deal with the issues identified.

Officers across Northern Area Command have also been working with partners to tackle the anti-social behaviour issues which matter to local people.

Now to get this message across to residents, posters have been placed in busy shopping areas and other locations, to keep local people informed.

Superintendent Mick Paterson of Northern Area Command said:

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird DBE QC, said:

Officers asked residents what concerned them about where they live:

  • Alnwick:Issue: Youths gathering at the local bus station throwing litter around making people feel unsafe.

  • Response: Officers increased patrols in the area and used dispersal notices when required. Officers worked with the bus company and the local authority who improved their weekend litter collection and Arriva installed a new CCTV system in the bus station. This partnership reduced reported incidents of ASB.

  • Ashington:Issue: Nuisance drivers gathering in the area and racing.

  • Response: 14 vehicles were seized during one month's activity, reducing the problem.

  • Berwick:

  • Issue: Youth disorder in the Castle Terrace area.

  • Response: Police stepped up patrols, issued 12 warning letters to families and took four young people home to their parents to deal with the issue.

  • Blyth

  • Issue: Officers have been tackling ASB in the Waterloo Road area of Blyth.

  • Response: Officers questioned 16 people, seven were told to leave the area and one was charged with assault.

  • Hexham:

  • Issue: Cars driving off designated tracks, causing damage to land and wildlife.

  • Response: Officers have taken positive action to deal with this.

  • Prudhoe:

  • Issue: Youths gathering in a local supermarket car park causing disorder. Response: Increasing patrols and taking positive action against offenders reported incidents fell by 80%.

  • North Shields:

  • Issue: Reports of disorder on the Meadowell Estate.

  • Response:Officers increased patrols and issued 10 dispersal orders to young people within two months the problems stopped.

  • Morpeth:

  • Issue:Complaints about a shop selling alcohol to under 18's.

  • Response: Police organising a test purchase operation and the shop had it's licence to sell alcohol revoked by the licensing sub-committee.

  • Seghill:Issue: anti-social behaviour

  • Response: Targeted patrols in the area, sent letters to parents of youths involved in disorder and issued dispersal notices. Two people were arrested and charged with offences.

  • Whitley Bay

  • Issue: Disorder on Churchill Playing Fields.

  • Response: Officers increased patrols and used ASB legislation to curb the problem. This resulted in no reports of ASB in January.

Anyone with concerns about crime or ASB where they live, should contact their local neighbourhood policing team on 101.