Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, is asking employers to get involved and empower their people to become Active Bystanders to help tackle public sexual harassment. People spend so much of their days and weeks at work, which provides real opportunity to reach responsible citizens to act, giving them the confidence to intervene in every-day life, says the PCC.

With White Ribbon Day just round the corner, which kick-starts the 16 days of action for the elimination of violence against women and girls, Susan is encouraging employers, particularly in male dominated professions like mechanics and construction, to get in the driving seat and build culture change that can have an impact on wider society and their organisation.

Active Bystander Training gives people the understanding and confidence to have conversations with friends, family and colleagues around issues like misogyny and sexism that lead to violence against women and girls. It also offers a range of tools to skilfully challenge sexist attitudes and behaviours to help people around you recognise the problem and think about how harmful it is. A few calm words can make the difference.

The training was introduced in May 2023 and to date 430 active bystanders have been trained up across the region. Impressed by the scheme since taking over as Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan has ambitions to double the number within the next year. With 63% of men agreeing that men in society aren’t doing enough to ensure the safety of women and girls, she says there is a welcome appetite for this training – people just need to understand the problem, know how to handle things and feel empowered to decide on the best course of action.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “According to UN Women UK eighty per cent of women have experienced sexual harassment in public, and that’s a lot of people witnessing these behaviours too. I have spoken to people who have been on the train, at the gym, or even at work events and they have seen harassment and have been left feeling guilty that they didn’t know how to step in to stop it. It’s understandable that people feel unsure about what to do or worry they might worsen things – and that’s where this training can help.

She continues: “I want to be clear, we’re not expecting heroics and always recommend that in dangerous situations call the police on 999, but there are times we can call out sexist comments and say, ‘look that’s not OK’ – that’s how we can encourage pro-social behaviour.

“This training is for anyone who might witness sexual harassment – which is all of us. When we see or hear sexual harassment and do nothing, we empower the harasser. Sexism, misogyny, and unwanted comments that degrade women and girls – they’re often disguised as ‘banter’, well the joke is over.”

The office has delivered 15 courses since May 2023, most recently to team members at Opencast – the first private sector business to champion an active bystander approach. Opencast is a fast-growing technology consultancy based in Newcastle who have recognised the part they can play in supporting colleagues’ societal change.

Opencast Head of People Engagement and Inclusion Sheena Widdowfield shared: “We’re proud to be the first private sector business to take part in the programme.  The ongoing epidemic of violence against women needs action and this training is a key part of the movement to change that. Opencast is proud to have some involvement in this, and we’re looking forward to seeing the broader spotlight grow for this subject matter to be heard, far and wide.”

Police Commissioner Susan Dungworth called into the training that was being delivered at Opencast last month. She said: “Opencast is clearly a forward-thinking company, and they get it – and they get their responsibility with this, and I hope others will follow their lead. We’d also love to work with employers in typically male dominated professions – builders and mechanics and so on, – together we can drive change.”

This year’s White Ribbon Day theme is #ItStartsWithMen”. Allyship is at the heart of WRUK’s work to prevent men’s violence against women and girls. “It starts with men” underscores the role men can – and must – play to end gender-based violence from society.

Northumbria OPCC Active Bystander Training takes place across two half day sessions and more information and details on how to sign up can be found at www.northumbria-pcc.gov.uk. This training was developed by Kindling Interventions who trained organisations across the region to deliver this course focussing on prevention of public sexual harassment. Kindling Interventions have developed Active Bystander courses for a range of audiences and settings, so businesses who want to specifically tackle workplace sexual harassment can contact them for help with their duty to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.

ENDS

The A&E Navigator initiative is making significant strides in its mission to tackle serious youth violence in Sunderland, with exciting plans to replicate the project in Northumberland to foster safer communities.

Since its launch, the programme has provided vital support to young people from 10 to 25 years, presenting in A&E for injuries or concerns related to violent crime, with 34% of those engaged receiving additional tailored support in their local communities.

Reducing hospital admissions for knife related serious violence is a top priority for the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, which identified A&E departments as crucial points of contact.

Whilst hospital teams provide year round safeguarding support, specialist A&E Navigators are on hand during busy Friday and Saturday evenings to identify and connect with vulnerable young people in Sunderland Royal Hospital, offering a ‘teachable moment’ when they are more likely to be open to receiving support and intervention.

This collaborative effort brings together key partners, including the Violence Reduction Unit, Waythrough, Sunderland Royal Hospital and Together for Children, all focused on the health, wellbeing and interests of young people to divert them from crime.

The ongoing success of the initiative underscores the importance of early intervention, and the upcoming rollout in Northumberland sets out to replicate these positive outcomes.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth said: “The A&E Navigator initiative is proving extremely effective in addressing youth violence in Sunderland, and while still in its early stages, the results we are seeing are truly encouraging.”

“I’ve witnessed the impact of this project first-hand, along with the inspiring dedication of the team behind it, and a strong partnership approach that made it possible. As we prepare to roll out this great work in Northumberland, I look forward to seeing this momentum grow even further.”

“We must keep doing everything we can to break the cycle of violence, and this project not only helps achieve this, but also connects young people with the support they need for a brighter future. Together, we’re building safer, stronger communities for everyone.”

Hannah Evans, Service Manager at Waythrough, said: “The Sunderland Royal programme has made a significant impact for many young people so far. The team has an unwavering commitment to all of the people they support and are passionate about breaking the cycle of violence through empowering people to create lasting change. We are honoured to be a part of this initiative, and we are looking forward to supporting even more people in the future in Northumberland.”

Dave Bramley, Clinical Director for Emergency Care at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Sunderland Royal Hospital, said: “We welcomed the Hospital Link workers to our A&E at Sunderland Royal back in April. We recognise the support they are able to offer someone hurt during a violent incident at what will be a crucial time in their life.”

“They’re asked to step in and speak to any patient aged from 10 up to 25 if they come to us for treatment because of an assault during those two evenings. That’s across both our children’s and adult emergency departments and it is part of the wider work we do to help protect young people from harm.”

“Our hope is this kind of intervention has a long term impact to help prevent any further instances of harm, both to that patient and others. We’re grateful for the input this project has into our teams.”

Simon Marshall, Director of Children’s Services for Together for Children said: “Being part of the Navigator initiative has meant key partners in Sunderland have been able to collectively work together to tackle the important issues of youth violence in the city. We are encouraged by the initial findings of the programme and fully support any initiatives that help young people to access the help and support they need which will make a long-term difference to their lives. The programme being rolled out across Northumberland is testament to the effectiveness of the project and the strength of the partnership, ensuring best practice and invaluable learnings are being shared across the region to the benefit of all.”

For more information about the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, visit the website.

POLICE commissioner Susan Dungworth vows to tackle ‘toxic Andrew Tate type’ attitudes through early education by launching a new digital resource to help drive culture change around sexual harassment and misogyny.

Through the all new ‘It All Adds Up’ resource, young people across Northumbria will be encouraged to watch a series of short films to spark discussion and help raise awareness and educate.

The learning materials have been developed by Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland and have been funded through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. They will be available to schools, youth leaders and educators and can be downloaded online for free.

The resource has been developed following widespread concerns over youngsters being exposed to the social media content of online influencer Andrew Tate – in which he expresses extreme views about women. Her office has received many messages from educators seeking support with tackling this in the classroom to help with behaviours they are seeing that reflect misogynistic and sexist ideology.

The materials are an extension of the #ItAllAddsUp digital campaign that was launched last year featuring a series of impactful videos shared across social media channels. The films showcase the experiences of women and girls in the North East – bringing to life real, everyday interactions and misogynistic behaviours and the impact on women and girls.

The films feature women of different cultures, ages and sizes to highlight how sexual harassment happens to all women. They’re experiencing harassment in different settings too, such as on the bus in a rural community, with a child in a park or when popping to the shops in broad daylight.  Research says 71% of women of all ages in the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space and most women blame themselves.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “Ultimately, we need young men and boys to be anti-Andrew Tate. We need them as allies. If we allow twisted viewpoints to seep into people’s minds, we are allowing them to potentially develop into abusive, violent behaviours. Young people are inundated with a lot of harmful content online and I want us to counter that by showing them how women are impacted every day with misogynistic attitudes.

“Along with so many parents, teachers and police, we want to take action that will help prevent youngsters growing up into future Andrew Tate types roaming the streets.

“I remember seeing Rape Crisis share the films online last year, before I was PCC, and they really made an impression on me so I am delighted we can put them to further use and get them in front of key audiences. The films have been praised for their truth and authenticity – with so many women telling us how they relate to them and also men saying they see this stuff going on and it makes them think.

“Now we want to encourage these types of discussions in the classroom or at the youth club. The earlier we get in front of young people, involving them in the conversation, calling out behaviours and raising awareness of how they can impact women, the better. We want to help teachers who have felt left in the dark about how to tackle this sort of topic – here’s the answer. But it’s not just a job for our teachers, we all need to speak out and call out harmful attitudes and behaviours whether you’re a teacher, a friend, a colleague – it’s a problem for society and society as a whole needs to respond.”

Sue Pearce, CEO of Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland, said: “This resource goes live on the 4^th of November for use in educational spaces for young people between the ages of 14-18 and is also for professionals that work with that age group. This means an awful lot to RCTN as it is raising awareness about sexual harassment.”

Jamie Allinson, Deputy CEO at Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland, said: “We really hope that the benefits of the resource will be that it can be used to educate and inform children and young people about sexual harassment and the impact that this has on women and girls. We’ve developed the resource following our previous campaign about sexual harassment. We’re really excited to share this to support in the educating of children and young people within the North East, and we’re really pleased to have worked closely with the Police Crime Commissioner during its development. You can find out more on our website.

The pack, which can be downloaded from RCTN.org.uk includes lesson plans, presentations, films and activity sheets tailored for young people aged 14-18.

ENDS

For more information visit: RCTN.org.uk

To sign up for our next Active Bystander Training course click here.

With winter approaching and popular celebrations such as bonfire night, Christmas and New Year just around the corner, a comprehensive programme of preventative activity is underway to reduce serious violence and keep communities safe.

Earlier this year, the Violence Reduction Unit’s Seasonal Violence Fund supported targeted initiatives throughout the summer, with efforts including increased visible police patrols and positive youth activities, resulting in reductions of up to 36% in violent crime in some hotspot areas.

Building on this success, and with winter fast approaching, the focus has shifted to addressing potential challenges that come with the darker nights, particularly as celebrations often increase social gatherings, alcohol consumption and late-night events.

Through a collaborative effort with the Violence Reduction Unit, Community Safety Partnerships, Northumbria Police and youth organisations, high-impact projects are being rolled out in hotspots across the Northumbria force area to ensure resources are directed where they are needed most.

Preventative measures will see extra patrols, taxi marshals and youth activities amongst some of the planned activities, all tailored to curb potential rises in winter violence as the darker nights set in.

In Gateshead, neighbourhood police teams and council licensing staff are using local intelligence and working closely with licensed premises to monitor and prevent violence linked to the night-time economy.

In Newcastle, a multi-agency taskforce is carrying out patrols in city centre hotspots during evening and weekends, with staff receiving additional training to better understand the risks of knife crime and vulnerability.

In North Tyneside, a range of targeted operations are focused on reducing violent crime, especially in areas that become busier during the longer nights.

In Northumberland, officers are taking a data-driven approach to tackling violence with a key focus on alcohol-related incidents and the night-time economy.

In South Tyneside, a series of sports activities and youth initiatives are in place to keep young people engaged in positive activities during the winter months.

In Sunderland, taxi marshals and increased patrols are there to help reassure the public and reduce disorder during the city’s night-time economy.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth said: “The safety and well-being of our communities is paramount, and this targeted activity is a crucial step in our continued efforts to keep people safe, especially during the darker nights.”

“I’ve spent time in local communities, listening to your concerns and ideas, and the activity we have underway directly reflect your priorities. As winter approaches and we are all spending more time out and about, we want to make sure we do everything we can to keep you safe.”

“With the combined efforts of the Violence Reduction Unit, Community Safety Partnerships, Northumbria Police and local youth organisations, we are united in our approach to making our streets safer and communities stronger.”

For more information about the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, visit the website.

NORTHUMBRIA Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, is putting a call-out to communities to apply for funding to support safe spaces, promote good relations in neighbourhoods and to nurture a sense of belonging for all in the Northumbria area.

Through her newly formed Commissioner’s Community Fund, PCC Dungworth is making £100k available to build on work that supports safer streets and stronger communities, following the civil disorder seen in the summer months.

The fund has been designed to empower local people and give communities affected by hate crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) a helping hand to cope and recover from recent experiences. It is also looking to support projects and initiatives that are determined to educate people and stamp our racism and hateful behaviours for good.

Micro grants of £1K and larger grants of £5K are to be made available to fund a range of projects including those that tackle hate crime or divert people away from anti-social behaviours. Susan is particularly interested in projects that will encourage the reporting of hate crimes or that will help engage and educate various groups.

The fund is being launched to coincide with National Hate Crime Awareness Week (NHCAW) 2024 which has a theme of bringing people together to advocate against all forms of hate crime, emphasizing unity and community safety.

Schools, community, charity, social enterprise or voluntary groups are all invited to bid for funding to support projects which focus on:

1. Repairing the damage caused by hate crime and work to improve community cohesion.

2. Preventing and reducing youth or adult ASB including the provision of diversionary activities.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said:

“Following the civil unrest of the summer, there was an incredible sense of coming together to stand up to hate across the North East and I want to build on this with a fund specifically designed to support and strengthen all our communities. I’m looking for anything that specifically brings people together from different backgrounds and ethnicities and that helps foster a wider sense of community and belonging for everyone.

“I want to hear from groups that offer activities that support integration, promote shared interests and celebrate the culture, heritage and diversity of the area. The more we do stand up to hate and call out racism the better. I look forward to seeing fresh schemes and initiatives rolled out in our communities to help make our streets safer and our communities stronger.”

Kumareswardas Ramanathan, who works with young people in Sunderland, has welcomed news of the fund. He said:

“Our diverse communities demonstrated resilience and a sense of solidarity in face of adversity and hostility during the civil unrest in the summer and we are working with our partners to repair the damage to community relations and harmonious relations amongst different communities that we have enjoyed over many years. I very much welcome the launch of the Commissioners Community Fund which will give our diverse communities the opportunity to offer activities that celebrate our rich cultures and foster good relations between different groups. I am grateful to the Police and Crime Commissioner for her commitment to making our streets safer and our communities stronger.”   

The fund is aimed at local grassroots organisations, projects and schools that strive to make their community a better place, combat hate crime in response to civil unrest and reduce ASB through diversionary activities and projects

For further details and to apply visit https://northumbria-pcc.gov.uk/your-priorities/police-crime-plan/improving-lives/commissioners-community-fund-24-25/

The closing date for applications is the 22^nd November.

PRESS RELEASE

THE rumour that police won’t prosecute the shoplifting of goods under £200 is ‘simply untrue’ says Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth.

Speaking after a Retail Roundtable event held in South Shields last week, the Commissioner debunked what she described as ‘harmful rumours’ that can encourage offending and hamper police action if crimes go unreported.

The Commissioner asked Chief Inspector Ian Blakemore, Northumbria Police’s retail crime lead, about the misconception as the topic has previously been raised by retailers and members of the public. In response she was given categorical reassurance that there was no lower limit for the police to investigate shoplifting.

Susan is now raising awareness of this in support of Safer Business Action Week which sees police and partners across the country joining together to reduce business crime.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “This myth that thieves will get away with stealing lower value goods is simply untrue and it’s damaging to policing perceptions and retail crime reporting. And so, I want to put these persistent rumours to bed. Officers have made it clear to me that there has never been an operational £200 policy – and there are absolutely no plans for there to be.

She continued: “Time and time again, we are seeing offenders who have committed shoplifting offences well below the £200 mark, rightly being put before the courts. Anyone thinking otherwise or that they will get away with it is wrong. Let’s be clear – Northumbria Police will take robust action against those who are committing shop theft at all levels – whether it’s a fiver or five hundred pounds – theft is theft. Shoplifting can also go hand in hand with violence, threats and abuse towards staff and these offences will also be treated with the seriousness they deserve.”

Reports of shoplifting have been rising across the UK and tackling this crime is very much a priority for Northumbria Police who use uniformed patrols in hotspots, plain clothes operations and public engagement to tackle shoplifting. Most recently additional patrols as part of Project Shield, funded through the PCC’s office, have been praised for increasing visibility and helping deter crime.

Chief Inspector Ian Blakemore, Northumbria Police’s Retail Crime Lead, said: “We take every report of theft very seriously and we carefully assess the risk to determine the best course of action.

“We understand the detrimental impact theft can have on businesses, shop workers and the community.

“It’s also often the case that proceeds from shoplifting contribute towards funding more serious and organised criminality.

“That’s why it’s important we continue to work closely with businesses and organisations to create a hassle-free, safe environment for shoppers and retailers.”