Antisocial behaviour crackdown in North Tyneside on the Metro, ahead of bank holiday weekend
Report by Jonny Blair
Preparations are being made to crack down on antisocial behaviour on the Tyne and Wear Metro ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.
Northumbria Police, Nexus who run the Metro, and North Tyneside Council are working together to tackle troublemakers on the system.
It follows a recent spate of incidents on the Metro along the North Tyneside coast, which have included assaults and a window being kicked out of a train.
Patrols have been increased throughout the area, with officers working with local Community Protection Officers (CPOs) from the council.
These include increased patrols on foot, bike and in cars.
Sergeant Richard Hay of Northumbria Police said: "We know that typically as the weather improves, we see more people out and about, which coincides with us receiving more reports of antisocial behaviour.
"This notably includes concerns about the behaviour of young people.
"While it is important to recognise that the overwhelming majority of young people are a credit to themselves and their local area, a minority of individuals can sometimes be drawn into anti-social behaviour and I'd like to reiterate that this type of activity simply won't be tolerated."
Sergeant Hay who works as part of the Wallsend Neighbourhood Policing Team continued: "We are committed to working with our partners, including the local authority and the communities impacted to effectively deal with this type of behaviour.
"We want the community to see us out and about and feel able to approach us with any issues.
"Where young people resist initial engagement and encouragement, we will make home visits to suspected offenders and their parents and hand out Dispersal Orders, which can ban people from entering an area for 48 hours.
"Those caught with alcohol will also see it seized."
"By working together we will continue to tackle antisocial behaviour"
It is a message reinforced by Richard Mitchell, the security and community public space protection manager at North Tyneside Council.
He stated: "In response to some recent complaints of antisocial behaviour, the council is supporting the Police and stepping up our joint patrols to combat the problem and reassure our residents in areas where concerns have been raised.
"North Tyneside remains a safe place to live and we will take whatever action is necessary to keep it that way."