Police hope cameras will stop child anti-social behaviour

Tyne Tees
Westerhope
Tuesday 31 October 2017 at 12:01pm

Specialist equipment will be used Credit: Northumbria Police

Police in Newcastle are set to use specialist video equipment after reports of child anti-social behaviour ahead of Bonfire night.

In recent weeks officers from the Newcastle North Neighbourhood Policing Team have noticed a steady increase in disorder in Westerhope.

They have been called to incidents where as many as 100 children have been loitering near the Chapel House Shops, outside Westerhope Commununity Association and around the Barbondale Lonnen areas in Westerhope.

Many of the children have been socialising with friends and have not caused any issues. But some have been causing significant criminal damage, drinking in the street and intimidating members of the community.

Officers have been told that the children are being dropped off in Westerhope by their parents after telling them they are meeting friends.

Now Neighbourhood Inspector Karen Murray has said the force will be using video spotters to catch those responsible for the more serious offending.

The specialist kit is normally only utilised at football matches or large scale demonstrations but this week it will be used to catch those involved in the anti-social behaviour.

"We have received a steady increase in the number of anti-social behaviour by young people in the Westerhope area in recent weeks. "Cars have been damaged, local playgrounds have been vandalised and local residents have been shouted at and intimidated by some teenagers. "We have seen as many as 100 children loitering in the area and the majority of them have been dropped off by parents or travelled there on public transport. "Most of the children have behaved but a handful of these children are committing serious criminal offences and we have to take more serious action. "As we approach Bonfire Night we will be adopting video spotters who will be deployed with our neighbourhood officers to film incidents of ASB to which we are deployed. "These young people should be aware that if we catch you on these videos committing criminal offences then we will take action and your parents will be informed. "We would also ask parents to make sure that they know what their children are doing and, if they are travelling to Westerhope, they are not getting into trouble. "Nobody should feel intimidated in their own community and we will continue to work hard to make our region a safer place to live."

If anyone has any concerns then call they should call the Newcastle North NPT on 101.