Partnership sees dramatic fall in anti-social behaviour

Project Shield was launched by Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth in the summer. It has seen extra patrols and engagement work carried out in hotspot locations across the force area.

In Northumberland, work has been targeted in Cramlington and Morpeth, as well as Ashington more recently. Local partners include Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, local youth providers, businesses and transport services.

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Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting (November 27) of the Cramlington, Bedlington and Seaton Valley Local Area Committee, neighbourhood inspector Jonathan Caisley said: “We have had some really good results with Operation Shield in Cramlington, which was identified as an ASB hotspot.

“We have had some really good reductions and the partnership working that development is really starting to bear fruit. We’re seeing consistently lower levels of ASB than in previous years.

“It’s not a done deal – there will always be anti-social behaviour and we will always prioritise it, but it is good to see consistently lower levels and not seeing those spikes that we have seen in previous years.”

Former police officer Neil Pacey now works on the project for Northumberland County Council. He continued: “It’s very much a team effort. We have produced some really good results.

“Anti-social behaviour can’t be solved from an office. We’re most effective on the ground. Partnership working is the other thing that makes us successful.”

Manor Walks shopping centre in Cramlington previously saw as many as 14 incidents of ASB reported every week. Last month, the area saw no reports for 17 days in a row.

Cllr Paul Ezhilchelvan, who represents the Cramlington South East ward, said: “The reduction in Cramlington is absolutely wonderful. No crime in Manor Walks in 17 days is a measure of the success.”