ARRESTS for carrying offensive weapons, possession of drugs and shoplifting are just some of the success stories to come from a dedicated Northumbria Police operation launched last month in South Tyneside following a spate of crime.
Operation Princess was rolled out in response to ASB and crime concerns raised by residents, commuters and shopkeepers in the East Shields and Whitburn areas.
To help get feelings of public safety back on track and prevent further crime, Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness’s Safer Transport Northumbria project team teamed up with officers, Nexus and South Tyneside Council to deliver a range of crime fighting measures to tackle local concerns head on.
The operation saw acquisitive crime – where large groups were using the Metro to commit high value shoplifts – fall by 81%. Public order offences also dropped 50% during the 6 week period.
Through the operation, more than 1500 people passed through the knife arch, 38 stop checks were carried out and 14 stop and searches were made as part of the proactive efforts to catch offenders and bring them to justice.
Funding secured by the PCC’s office was used to boost resources and improve police visibility. It’s also been used to implement knife arches and bring in further support from the Multi Agency Transport Team. The team brings together police, transport providers and local authority community safety teams to engage with young people in areas where youth anti-social behaviour has been identified as a particular concern.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “This operation really has been a job well done. Not only do the numbers speak for themselves but residents and transport bosses have told me so. It’s been a well delivered mix of catching people, detecting crime, and improving people’s general feelings of safety on and around our public transport networks in the area.
“Reliable, affordable, and crucially, safe – that’s what people tell me they want from public transport and I’m making it my mission. I’m working with others to map out more plans and solutions to keep bettering our public transport and I will be fighting for more funding so we can deliver more work like Operation Princess. Safer transport really matters to the people of South Tyneside, and it matters to me.”
South Tyneside’s Cllr Jim Foreman, Lead Member for Housing and Community Safety, said: “Public transport is so important for people to access jobs, learning and social opportunities and everyone should feel safe and secure on our networks.
“This operation was a great example of collaborative working with our partners to deter anti-social behaviour and crime on the system and its knock-on effect on South Tyneside, by providing a visible, reassuring presence in and around the Metro.”
Chief Inspector Phil Baker, of Northumbria Police, said: “We are delighted with the early impact that Operation Princess has made across South Tyneside and it’s a great example of effective partnership that is making a real, tangible difference for our communities.
“Tackling anti-social behaviour is a priority for the Force and this positive activity is not a one-off. We have planned operations throughout the year to target hotspot areas and crime trends, and that work will be continuing over the coming weeks and months.
“As ever, I’d like to thank our residents, commuters and businesses for their support and I hope these results offer reassurance that we have listened to their concerns – and are taking robust action to address them.
“Anyone who is a victim of crime, or who has concerns about criminality in their area, is encouraged to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101. In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always ring 999.”
More than £1m worth of projects to drive down crime on public transport across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear have been rolled out through the Safer Transport Northumbria Project since it was launched by Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness two years ago.
ENDS
