NORTHUMBRIA’S Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness is set to commission a full independent review of the complaint made in relation to the police investigation into the murder of Sunderland school girl Nikki Allan.

In May 2023, David Boyd, 55, was found guilty of beating seven-year-old Nikki Allan with a brick and stabbing her in a disused building in Sunderland. His conviction came after the re-opening of Northumbria Police’s investigation in 2017 – where advances in DNA testing revealed a link to Nikki Allan’s ex-neighbour, Boyd.

Northumbria Police initially prosecuted another of Nikki’s neighbours, George Heron, but he was cleared of murder in 1993. Northumbria Police has previously apologised for failures.

Kim McGuinness has previously said she can only imagine the impact the wait for justice has had on Nikki’s family and yesterday she met in person with Nikki’s mother, Sharon Henderson, to discuss her experience.

In her role as Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness is required to act as the public’s voice in policing in Northumbria and put in place the appropriate scrutiny to ensure the force is being effectively held to account.

During yesterday’s meeting with the family, Kim McGuinness said she planned to commission an independent organisation to conduct a review of any formal complaint made by the family.

The Commissioner has issued the following statement:

“More than 30 years ago, Sharon Henderson and her family suffered an incredible loss when Nikki Allan was murdered. Their long wait for justice has only compounded their pain.

“Northumbria Police has always remained committed to finding the person responsible, and officers showed that dedication when they used new forensic techniques to finally secure a conviction for Nikki Allan’s murder.

“Hard-working officers brought justice to this case. However, questions remain for Sharon and her family, including over the initial investigation. I agree that Sharon deserves answers. 

“Once the formal complaint is received from the family, I will invite an independent organisation in to review the complaint.

“A process such as this will take time, but Sharon and her family will finally get the answers they need.”

ENDS

Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness has blasted the Home Office for ‘pulling the plug’ on crucial policing projects that have protected countless vulnerable people and seen direct crime fall in the North East.

Home Office officials have made clear that they will not allow any further bids into the Safer Streets fund for two successful Northumbria Police schemes – one designed to keep women safe in bars and clubs, and another which tackles anti-social behaviour and crime on public transport.

Writing to the Some Secretary Suella Braverman last week, Kim McGuinness has urged for the decision to be reversed to allow effective work to continue across the police force.

The first project that can no longer receive Safer Streets funding is Operation Cloak. This operation sees plain-clothes officers proactively target men who seek to take advantage of women in vulnerable situations in the Night-Time Economy. Other Safer Streets projects that won’t continue to be funded are the likes of Operation Princess, which saw extra police, resource deployed across the transport network to tackle crime and rising ASB.  The additional council, security personnel and youth workers that have been deployed across the transport network over the last 12 months to tackle rising ASB will also stop.

The Commissioner recently praised the success of Operation Cloak, which over the last 12 months alone, has delivered more than 700 patrols with 821 policing interventions and 62 arrests. Meanwhile, Operation Princess, seen theft offences fall 78 per cent and public order down by 68 per cent on key sections of the Metro network.

The office has submitted a range of detailed proposals to fight and prevent crime in the region – one will see officers providing high-level surveillance including number plate recognition and CCTV to identify women and children at risk of being abducted, spiked, raped, sexually assaulted, and put in fear of violence so robust action can be taken.

But while the Commissioner is excited at the prospect of rolling out the proposals in place, she said it was a ‘real blow’ to be told that existing projects that are clearly delivering results and keeping people safe have to stop.

Kim McGuinness, said: “It feels like at every turn Government is holding Northumbria Police back – throwing obstacles at policing and quite frankly throwing people into a greater risk of being victims of crime. We’ve been repeatedly denied funding to get recruitment figures back to where we were pre -2010, and now we are being denied funding to continue work that is evidently keeping our region and our people safe.

“We saw this investment reduce crime. The people of the North East have seen what works, they are safer as a result. We should be allowed to invest where there is proven success, based on our local needs. The problem with the Safer Streets Fund is it speaks to a much bigger challenge – the Home Office is intuitionally opposed to devolution. There is too much reliance upon one-off funding announcements in which officials and ministers in Whitehall decide what is best for people living hundreds of miles away. “

View the letter here.

ENDS

As young people across the region head back to school, they will now understand the heart-breaking reality of carrying a knife as Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness’s Violence Reduction Unit ramps up its education programme in a bid to tackle knife crime.

Through providing interactive sessions to thousands of children, the unit’s dedicated Education Team will focus on addressing why young people might carry a knife, the law and consequences around knife crime, dispelling any myths and looking at the advice and support available.

This comes as the Violence Reduction Unit launched its hard-hitting Knives Impact Everyone campaign last month, aimed at making young people think before picking up a knife by understanding the impact their actions can have.

The ramped up violence reduction learning programme is the latest addition in this powerful campaign that already includes emotionally charged graphics on the region’s buses, metro stations, billboards and kiosks, as well as online.

Already featuring in the campaign, the following message will now be a key factor in the education sessions delivered to young people – ‘Knife crime cuts deep. Whether you’re carrying or you’re a victim, the consequences impact everyone; family, friends, emergency services and communities’.

The Education Team have already worked with a staggering 71,555 young people since the unit’s inception in 2019, and this renewed focus will see them work with thousands more.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “I don’t want to see another family go through the heartbreak of losing a loved one to this horrific crime. That’s why this early intervention is key to ensuring young people understand that their actions can have a devastating impact on so many.”

“Education is such a valuable tool, which is my Violence Reduction Unit has a dedicated education team giving young people the chance to take part in open and honest discussions about the realities and consequences of knife crime.”

“We must continue to get the right messages to young people so that we can support them in making better decisions for their future.”

“I know the education team are eager to get back into schools to deliver our vital knife crime awareness sessions, and I’d like to thank every young person who takes part.”

Training is also available to those who work with young people to help them have those early conversations and provide the right support by understanding issues relating to knife crime that could increase a person’s vulnerability.

For more information, please contact the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit by email vru@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk

ENDS

Hundreds of young people have been targeted by on-the-ground patrols as result of the Newcastle Task Force set up to prevent spikes in summer violence. 

The task force, funded through Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness’ Violence Reduction Unit and Newcastle City Council, is making a significant impact in hotspot and high footfall areas of Newcastle this summer. 

The task force provides a visible presence with staff out meeting hundreds of young people in the city centre, parks and other green spaces, acting as a deterrent to incidents. 

Earlier this month, the Commissioner’s Violence Reduction Unit launched Knives Impact Everyone, an awareness campaign aimed at educating young people on the impact their actions can have if they were to carry or use a knife.  

As part of this, the task force in Newcastle is working to engage young people in order to reduce the number of those found to be in possession of a knife or weapon, as well as reducing the amount of young people becoming involved in anti-social and violent offences.  

Operating when the city is at its busiest for football matches, music concerts, popular nights out and iconic events such as the Hopping’s funfair, the task force has brought in a number of initiatives including:  

• Taking a targeted approach in order to utilise resources appropriately to get the best results in reducing violent crime.    
• Community Safety Teams deployed in hotspot and high footfall areas on weeknights and weekends to act as a deterrence and increase feelings of safety.  
• Utilising CCTV to deploy teams in areas where issues may be arising.  
• Youth Outreach Workers and other key partners working throughout the city now take part in fortnightly meeting to ensure a joined up approach to tackling violent crime.
• Staff have taken part in a programme of training including awareness around knife crime, personal safety, signs of intoxication and drug use, in order to help them spot the early signs and provide the best support.  

To identify and deter those causing the most disruption, the task force brings together a range of services and organisations, including the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, Newcastle City Council, Northumbria Police, the Youth Justice Service, Your Homes Newcastle and specialist youth services.  

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “We need to keep getting ahead of the issue and quickly resolving it and that includes driving down violence over the summer and winter periods when the cities are at their busiest.” 

“I am delighted that the task force is making fantastic headway in engaging with our regions young people, helping to identify those causing disruption and deterring them from crime. It is a vital tool in our programme of activity to prevent serious violence, which is why the task force sits alongside the wider work of the Violence Reduction Unit and its partners.” 

“We must continue educating young people through our awareness sessions and important campaigns including Knives Impact Everyone, keep providing positive opportunities through dedicated youth work and offering the right support where needed. All of this early intervention is key to ensuring our young people make good decisions for their future.” 

“We all want to feel safe when attending popular events and enjoying everything else our cities have to offer – that’s why I want to reinforce my message that we will never tolerate violence.” 

For more information, please contact the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit by email vru@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk 

ENDS

HEART-BREAKING conversations and undelivered messages feature in a series of short videos as part of a new campaign determined to prevent knife crime in the North East.

Last week, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness and the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit launched their hard-hitting campaign, Knives Impact Everyone. The campaign wants to make young people think before picking up a knife and understand the consequences of their actions.

The videos have been made available on online through a wide range of channels popular with young people, including Snapchat and YouTube. They highlight the devastating impact that knife crime has on so many people, such as family, friends, emergency services and communities.

Featuring difficult conversations between young people when an incident has taken place, an emergency worker reaching out to their partner for support after trying to save a life, a friend comforting a grieving parent and finally, the most heart breaking of them all, a loved one sending a message that will never be delivered, “I miss you so much”.

These powerful videos are the latest release in the Knives Impact Everyone campaign, which already has emotionally charged graphics covering the region’s buses, metro stations, billboards and kiosks, as well as online.

Speaking about the Knives Impact Everyone campaign, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “Most of us think of knife crime as only having an impact on those we consider to be involved, the victim and the perpetrator – but what our campaign sets out is that there are so many more people impacted by this horrific crime. Family, friends, emergency services and local communities – we all feel it.”

“The videos released today show the true devastation and heartache that knife crime brings, from an emergency worker who tried to save a life, to a family member whose message will never be delivered to their loved one.”

“Our Knives Impact Everyone campaign helps us to continue getting important information to young people on the dangers, consequences and impact of carrying and using knives. However, there is so much more that we are doing to tackle knife crime, which the campaign now sits alongside.”

“We need to continue with the youth work, the interventions, the family support and the education sessions, delivered by the Violence Reduction Unit and its partners – all of this together is how we prevent knife crime and any more lives being lost.”

You can find out more about the work of the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit and the campaign to reduce knife crime here: www.KnivesImpactEveryone.co.uk

Knives Impact Everyone Videos

ENDS 

A hard-hitting campaign determined to stop knife crime in the North East has been launched today by Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness and Northumbria’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU).

The ‘Knives Impact Everyone’ campaign highlights the devastating consequences carrying a knife can have, as well as pointing people to support and advice.

The emotionally charged graphics which feature unanswered text messages will be plastered across social media as well as on the backs of buses, billboards, and kiosks.

It features the words: ‘Knife crime cuts deep. Whether you’re carrying or you’re a victim, the consequences impact everyone; family, friends, emergency services and communities’.

The campaign has been designed with input from school children across the region, all keen to play a part in ending violence that has ruined lives in the region.

Although knife crime is a national problem, the North East is no exception and in recent years there have been too many lives taken too soon due to the evils of knife crime in cases which sent shock waves through local communities.

In a bid to fight such devastation, in 2019 Kim McGuinness set up the region’s first Violence Reduction Unit. The unit works with a range of services and youth organisations to engage as many young people as possible, and to understand the causes of knife crime and how to prevent it.

Through its education team, 1270 knife crime awareness sessions have been delivered by the VRU to 34,676 young people since 2020. A further 119 knife crime training sessions to 3016 practitioners since have also taken place.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “We must reach kids with the right messages and the right opportunities – that’s how we prevent any more lives being lost in the North East.

“I don’t want to see another family go through the devastation of losing a loved one to knife crime. We’ve seen some incredibly brave families go through the unthinkable and we must put our all into stopping history repeating itself.

“Worried parents, teachers, police officers, not to mention so many young people themselves – everyone is desperate to put an end to senseless stabbings. Hundreds came to the memorial match for Tomasz – so many young voices were making it crystal clear – they don’t want there to be a senseless stabbing ever again and that’s why we made sure we engaged with kids when designing this. We need to understand the issue and we need them on board. We need real change and we have listened to these voices. I want to make it clear though 99% of kids don’t carry knives but there is 1% that do, and we must reach them, we must stop them.”

She continued: “This campaign must powerfully push out our message alongside all the youth work, the interventions, and the wider family support we are offering. I want young people to know of the consequences, know not to carry and a knife and know they need to report knife crime and how they can get support. For every person we dissuade from carrying a knife that could be potentially life-saving – so this campaign is incredibly important.”

Through the Violence Reduction Unit, Kim McGuinness has invested £100,000 in local communities to tackle violent crime this summer. This follows success last summer where violent crime dropped 12.2% and again by 10% in the winter.

Chief Superintendent Helena Barron, of Northumbria Police, said: “We very much support the campaign from the Violence Reduction Unit and welcome any initiative which helps highlight and reduce the devastation knife crime can cause.

“Knife crime is a complex issue and one each and every one us has a responsibility to help tackle.

“I hope this campaign will make people realise the potential consequences of carrying a knife or weapon – not only could you take away someone else’s future and cause untold pain to their loved ones, but also ruin your own life and those of your family and friends.

“We would urge anyone who does carry a knife to think again and stop.”

She added: “Tackling knife crime is a priority for us and we have officers, staff and volunteers working every single day to reduce the impact of this type of offending.

“From knife searches, targeting suspects, patrolling key locations and helping educate young people about the dangers of carrying weapons – we are committed to playing our part.

“We also work with our partners, through diversionary schemes and the Violence Reduction Unit to prevent people getting involved in this type of offending and steer them away from crime.

“We would also continue to ask for your support – for families to have conversations about the impact carrying a knife can have, and if you know someone takes a weapon out with them please report it to the police so we can take action.

“Our region is an incredible place to live and work, with a fantastic community spirit and by all pulling together we can make a difference.”

To report someone who carries a knife, or to share concerns, please use the Tell us Something page on the Northumbria Police website or via 101. Alternatively, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

You can find out more about the work of the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit and the campaign to reduce knife crime here: www.KnivesImpactEveryone.co.uk