POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER SUSAN DUNGWORTH APPOINTS DEPUTY

NORTHUMBRIA Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth has appointed Cllr Clare Penny-Evans to the role of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

As Deputy, Clare will support Susan as she consults with the public to prepare a new Police and Crime Plan. She will also assist with responsibilities around scrutinising the police, providing community reassurance and working with partners to prevent crime.

Clare has an impressive track record of public service and has been an elected member of Newcastle City Council since 2017. She has held several senior positions, including Cabinet Member for Communities, which included Chairing Safe Newcastle Community Safety Partnership. She was also a driving force ensuring Newcastle received White Ribbon Accreditation which ensures organisations are committed to ending Violence Against Women and Girls.

With her, she brings skills of holding officials to account, advocating for those in need of support and negotiating with Government departments to secure funding and initiatives to benefit the local area.

As a local councillor she has represented Heaton in Newcastle since 2017, and currently works for a charity that works to make sure that disabled  people and their families can be in control of their own lives – strong, confident and included in the communities of their choice.

Her proposed appointment was put forward at a meeting of the Northumbria Police and Crime Panel at the Civic Centre in Gateshead today (Tuesday 23^rd July).

Members of the panel had the opportunity to question Ms Penny-Evans and were asked to review the proposed appointment. Following this, they recommended the appointment of Cllr Penny-Evans with a majority support.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth said: “I’ve known Clare for many years and she has always stood out to me for her genuine community focus and partnership working – she’s a perfect fit for the role.

“I believe she will have valuable input as I consult with residents and professionals on developing a new Police and Crime Plan and will provide key support to ensure we effectively deliver work to tackle the key priorities set by local people.

“Her wealth of experience in several senior positions including Cabinet Member for Communities and chairing the Safe Newcastle Community Safety Partnership lend perfectly to the role and I look forward to having Clare work alongside me to deliver Safer Streets and Stronger Communities for the people of Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.”

Cllr Angela Douglas, Chair of the Northumbria Police and Crime Panel, said: “Clare’s record of being a driving force for change, knowledge of the region and experience of system-wide partnership working made her the ideal candidate for the role of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

“We look forward to working with Clare in her new role to ensure we deliver on key priorities for our communities.”

Cllr Clare Penny- Evans said: “It’s an honour to be selected as Deputy PCC and I feel really enthusiastic about the part I can play in supporting Susan to deliver her commitments around safer streets and stronger communities.  I’m no stranger as to how the Police and Crime Plan is developed as I have been involved from the other side through my Safe Newcastle and was consulted previously on VAWG initiatives, tackling ASB and lobbying for fair funding settlements. I believe together all this reinforces my commitment to delivering the priorities in the Police and Crime Plan. I’m ready to get stuck and with Susan’s leadership and a new Government at the top, I believe we can make a genuine difference.”

During the Panel, PCC Dungworth explained appointing a Deputy PCC is an official recommendation of the former Government to enhance resilience and capacity. PCCs cover a growing range of responsibilities and she believes the Deputy role can bring welcome expertise and provides further scope for scrutiny of the police force. She also added that the appointment of a Deputy is widespread practice among the majority of PCCs up and down the country.

The DPCC primary focus will be to support the PCC to drive the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan, which incorporates the Police Commissioner’s manifesto commitments, and her portfolio will be finalised once the priorities of the new Police and Crime Plan are in place.

The Police and Crime Panel is made up of independent members who support the PCC in her function of holding the police to account and also provide a role in scrutinising the PCC’s decisions.

Cllr Clare Penny-Evans will take up the role from September working on a part-time basis of three days a week.

ENDS

‘PROJECT SHIELD’ – A FORCE-WIDE PROJECT TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES HAS BEEN LAUNCHED TO TACKLE CRIME AND ASB IN HOTSPOT AREAS

BOOSTING community confidence and driving down crime like anti-social behaviour and serious violence– that is what a new joint project is setting out to achieve across the whole Northumbria Police force area.

Through funding secured by Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth’s office, Northumbria Police has been working closely with all six local authorities and the local transport network to devise Project Shield. The new project will deliver increased patrols by police and partners, as well as targeted activity in identified areas of concern.

These increased patrols will be used to engage with people and businesses, help grow trust and create opportunities for local people to report issues around anti-social behaviour, crime and serious violence. Officers will also be able to take swift action should any incidents arise.

The project also includes analysts and intelligence officers who are working to identify trends and inform deployments meaning bespoke action will be taken to meet the patterns and needs of each specific area.

With the summer holidays around the corner, activity is also being planned in response to seasonal increases in ASB and serious violence. Prevention work through Northumbria’s Violence Reduction Unit and other youth service providers is also part of the project plan.

People can expect to see a broad range of activity such as stop and search operations, weapon sweeps, community engagement events, as well as robust action to catch known offenders in hotspot areas.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “I want people to feel that their streets are safer, and their community is stronger, and I know the launch of this project is a significant step towards achieving that. This project is about us all coming together as one, looking closely at the intelligence and data and targeting areas of concern with a direct response – a real boost in activity. This will help local people feel reassured as well as helping to catch those responsible for causing misery and harm in our communities.

“It’s a truly joined up effort with our police, local authorities and transport providers. We are all determined to protect communities throughout the Northumbria Police area and I am grateful to everyone who is behind it, making it happen.”

Susan added: “I know a lot activity, covering engagement, prevention and enforcement has been mapped out for the months ahead – I welcome this and I know the residents I have spoken with will do too.”

Chief Superintendent Joanne Park-Simmons, Northumbria Police’s knife crime lead, said: “It’s great to see police and partners coming together to address key concerns across our Force area.
“Anti-social behaviour and violence can have serious and life-changing consequences, which can also significantly affect the wider community.

“This targeted approach – focused on increased visibility and community engagement – will build on efforts around crime prevention and ensure people feel safe where they live, work and visit.

“It will also help us form a clearer picture of the criminal networks potentially operating in these areas, so we can identify and target those responsible for causing harm within our communities.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the results this joint operation delivers – and the positive impact it has in our region.”

Project Shield investment has been secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbia through the Hotspot Response fund and will run until March 2025.

ENDS

Police Commissioner Susan Dungworth has today announced the launch of the Local Youth Fund, asking young people to put forward innovative ideas on how serious violence and knife crime is prevented.

With £16,000 available for youth-led projects, this initiative aims to harness the creativity and insight of young people, in a bid to create safer streets and stronger communities.

The Violence Reduction Unit’s Local Youth Fund invites young people to share their views and experiences of serious violence, and propose forward-thinking solutions, to be in with a chance of receiving a share of the funding.

The initiative provides young people with a platform to have their voices heard, along with the opportunity to see their ideas brought to life, as they help shape the future of their local areas.

In previous rounds, the fund has made significant strides, supporting 78 projects, and directly benefitting over 5,200 young people.

Through a wide variety of projects, including sports activities, youth-led campaigns and drop in sessions, the fund highlights the creativity and dedication of young people across the region, and seeks new ideas to continue making a positive impact.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth said: “I am committed to making our streets safer and communities stronger – but to achieve this, it is essential that our young people are involved in key decisions made about their local areas.”

“In doing so, we not only address the issue of violence head on, but also empower our young people to take an active role in shaping the future of local areas. That’s why the Violence Reduction Unit’s Local Youth Fund is a pivotal step in giving them the chance to make a real difference.”

“So, if you have a creative idea to share, now is your chance to apply for funding, with the possibility of seeing your project come to life. I am looking forward to hearing your ideas, and to seeing them in action soon.”

Young people are now encouraged to apply for funding, with the support of community and youth-based organisations, by submitting project proposals that they think will prevent serious violence and knife crime in their local areas.

When the fund closes on Friday 27th September 2024, a panel of young people will review all bids, before selecting one successful project per local authority area to receive a share of the funding.

For more information about the Local Youth Fund, and how to apply, visit the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit website.

Public consultation for Susan Dungworth’s Police and Crime Plan launched

NEWLY elected Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth is urging the public to have their say to help shape her new Police and Crime Plan for the Northumbria Police force area.

Police and crime commissioners are elected to represent the public on policing matters and hold their local force to account, so Susan is urging residents to have their say. She is calling for people to share their thoughts, feelings, and priorities as part of a major new survey to help inform a new strategic document.

The Plan will steer the Commissioner’s work alongside Northumbria Police for the next four years, helping to deliver safer streets and stronger communities for everyone.

From the local issues impacting on you and your neighbourhood to the bigger issues that matter across the Northumbria force area, the Commissioner is encouraging people to give their feedback by completing the survey which is live from now until Saturday 31^st August.

The short survey can be completed online with other formats available on request. Feedback is being gathered on three key themes: fighting crime, preventing crime and building better systems and improving experiences.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “I want to be doing everything I can to make our streets safer and our communities stronger. To achieve this, I need to reach as many people as possible and to listen. Everyone should feel safe in their own homes and places of work, on their local streets and public transport and in their communities. So, I really want to encourage people to take just a couple of minutes to complete my short survey.

“It’s my job to give you a voice on all things police and crime related and this is your plan, and it must meet the needs of you, your family and your local community. With your valuable input, I can make sure that resource, investment, training and awareness is all focused on tackling the issues that matter most to you.

“Overall, our region is a safe place to live and work, but it has its challenges. From anti-social behaviour to violence against women and girls, there remain areas in which we need to see continued progress and there are new challenges we must take on. That’s why this consultation is so important – the results will set our policing priorities for the next four years and I really look forward to hearing everything everyone has to say and responding with action. I was elected on the promise of being a Commissioner who listens and this is just the start of our conversation around building safer streets and stronger communities.”

The survey can be completed HERE.

THE Knife Angel will be leaving Sunderland on Saturday following a closing ceremony on Friday 28^th June. Its departure follows a month-long visit which was teamed up with awareness raising sessions dedicated to fighting knife crime across the Northumbria Police force area.

Its visit to Keel Square in Sunderland was the result of a successful bid by the Connor Brown Trust as part of their ongoing efforts to highlight serious violence and the dangers of carrying a knife.

More than 1,000 students have been educated through thought-provoking workshops delivered by the charity, as part of school visits to see the Angel.

Simon and Tanya from The Connor Brown Trust have been at the Angel every day since its arrival on the 31^st May. They have been sharing their story to visitors, opening up about the loss of their son, Connor, due to knife crime, and the impact it has had on their family and others who have suffered such avoidable loss.

The idea to bring the Angel to Sunderland came after the couple saw the significant engagement achieved when the Angel took residency in Gateshead and Teesside.

The impressive 27-foot-tall statue is created from blades confiscated by the UK’s 43 police forces, including Northumbria Police. It is the work of artist and sculptor Alfie Bradley who was commissioned by the British Ironwork Centre as part of a series of impactful art pieces designed to address national issues.

The project has been supported by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria, Sunderland City Council and Northumbria Police.

Tanya Brown, from The Connor Brown Trust, said: “It’s been an incredible month, we have been through such a range of emotions, particularly now its time here is coming to an end. It’s meant so much to us, as a family, to have the Angel in our city in memory of Connor and the other victims lost because of knives. We’ve reached thousands of young people with the important message that knives impact everyone – victims, families, perpetrators, witnesses and the emergency services too and are grateful for all the support we have had to make all this happen. The Angel has been a powerful focal point to having such important conversations – conversations we all need to keep having – we have to get it through that there is no right time to carry a knife.”

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “The Angel’s time here in the city might be coming to an end but the effort and determination to continue fighting knife crime continues. Seeing the region come together this month, supporting the anti-knife message has been incredible. I can’t thank Simon and Tanya enough for their hard work and dedication to not only bringing this to the city but tirelessly working to speak with young people and get the message across through sharing their awful experience.

“No family should have to suffer what they have, and others have, and that’s why we have to put so much effort into working with young people, families, and communities so we are all in the fight against knife crime together. If we work with young people, and support them, we can reduce crime and save lives.”

Peter McIntyre, Executive Director of City Development at Sunderland City Council, said: “Tanya and Simon’s bravery and determination to channel their grief into something positive after losing Connor has been nothing short of remarkable. I have no doubt that their powerful story will have had a lasting impact on all who have heard it while the Knife Angel has been here.

“The city’s ground-breaking SAIL project has worked closely with the Connor Brown Trust in the lead up to and during the Knife Angel’s stay. This has included fundraising with the aim of creating a legacy in Connor Brown’s name, by providing Emergency Bleed Kits in Sunderland city centre.

“The Knife Angel has touched the hearts of people across the region during its time in Sunderland. And while its stay has been brief, if it has made even one young person think twice about carrying a knife or the devastating consequences of knife crime then its visit will have been well worthwhile.”

The Knife Angel’s departure ceremony will take place at City Hall 6pm on Friday 28^th June with candles being lit to remember loved ones at the Angel from 6.45pm. It will then depart the region the following day and bring to an end its stay in the North East.

More information about The Connor Brown Trust can be found here.

More information about the Angel and the British Ironwork Centre can be found here.

HARD-HITTING sessions on the impacts of knife crime are to reach thousands of young people this summer as the Knife Angel lands in Sunderland. 

Tanya and Simon Brown, from the Connor Brown Trust, have worked tirelessly on their mission to bring the powerful statue to the city and want to make sure their anti-knife message gets through to as many young people as possible. 

They’re appealing to everyone who works with those in Year 5 and beyond to book onto sessions running throughout June and warn slots are filling fast. 

The sculpture is taking pride of place in Keel Square throughout the month, and the educational workshops will be running alongside this in City Hall. Sessions available to book via The Connor Brown Trust website. 

The impressive sculpture is made with over 100,000 seized blade and was created to highlight the dangers of violent crime and the negative effects it brings to our society. 

The Connor Brown Trust works to provide youth work programmes to benefit young people and the wider community. It is hoped the powerful structure made of 100,000 surrendered blades will bring people together and encourage open conversations around the dangers of carrying bladed weapons, and the potential consequences. 

Tanya Brown, bravely tells the story of how her own son, Connor, was tragically killed as a result of knife crime as part of the impactful sessions she delivers to classrooms and youth groups. She said: “We share the tragic circumstances that led to Connor’s death in detail because it helps others understand the impact of knife crime in more depth. We feel that in being so open and honest about it is a crucial part of the workshops and we want our streets to be safe, we want young people to be safe. The knife angel represents a visual part of learning and helps to deliver the emotional impact on a bigger scale.”  

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth whose office has helped fund the initiative, said: “We’ve seen too many lives lost because of people choosing to carry knives and so the more young people we reach out to and educate about the dangers of knife crime, the better chance we have of avoiding devastating losses in the future. 

“There has been some good work happening across the region, the Violence Reduction Unit is really established now and inspirational people like Tanya and Simon are such a driving force in preventing youth violence. As the new Police and Crime Commissioner, tackling knife crime will remain a top priority – there’s lots to build on and lots more to do.” 

Chief Superintendent Joanne Park-Simmons, Northumbria Police’s knife crime lead, said: “As a Force, sadly we are only too aware of the utter devastation that knife crime can cause to so many people. A huge amount of work is ongoing to help tackle, reduce and prevent knife crime across Northumbria – through proactive activity targeting offenders as well as crucial intervention work educating young people on why they should never carry weapons. We’d like to thank Tanya and Simon for their incredible work in continuing to shine a light on this important issue among young people and our wider communities – and would encourage as many people as possible to book onto these sessions. As ever, we’d ask parents and carers to have those difficult conversations with young people about the dangers of carrying knives. By working together, we can help to keep our region safe and further reduce knife crime incidents in our communities.” 

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “The knife angel tells a stark but necessary warning around the dangers of knife crime. It is backed by families who have suffered terrible tragedy and now work tirelessly to prevent others going through their loss. I’m proud to back those families and the education work going on in schools across the North East warning young people of the all-too-real human cost involved in carrying a knife. I want to thank Tanya and Simon for all they have done here, their sheer determination to prevent tragedy, building on the work of Samantha’s Legacy and so many others who, on a daily basis, work hard to make our region safer. Anyone who saw the knife angel when we brought it to Gateshead along with Samantha’s Legacy, knows how powerful it is. It’s hard-hitting and it makes you think and that’s the whole idea. I’m looking forward to welcoming the angel to Sunderland as a way of representing the social change we’ve been pushing for across the region to end knife crime . It’s all about encouraging the important conversations – getting schools and youth groups to sign up to the sessions ran by Tanya and Simon. Listening to them speak about what happened to Connor is such a moving and impactful wake-up call for anyone who thinks carrying a knife is OK.” 

Councillor Michael Mordey, Leader of Sunderland County Council, said: “This an important part of the wider work underway across the region to make young people think twice about carrying a knife. 

“I think Tanya and Simon’s story will be incredibly powerful in getting the message across to young people about the devastating impact of knife crime and I would encourage everyone who has the chance to sign up for one of these sessions to do so.” 

Sunderland’s ground-breaking SAIL project has been working closely with the Connor Brown Trust in the lead up to the Knife Angel event. 

With a focus on education and prevention, SAIL has worked with the most at risk young people and challenged their behaviour and attitudes to violent crime through a series of themed graffiti workshops as well as this targeted intervention work. 

SAIL has also delivered knife crime workshops in schools, as part of #OpSceptre and throughout June will be involved in fundraising with the aim of creating a legacy in Connor Brown’s name, by providing Emergency Bleed Kits in Sunderland city centre. 

These sessions will centre on warning young people of the dangers as well as crucially making sure they know what to do and where to go if they need help or advice if they or someone they know is carrying a knife. 

The workshops will consist of different activities and educational sessions to suit a range of ages from primary school, to secondary school aged children. Youth groups and clubs are also encouraged to sign up. Sessions are 90 minutes in length and are limited to 45 people per session including accompanying adults. www.connorbrowntrust.com