POLICE COMMISSIONER Kim McGuinness has announced the welcome news that dozens of Northumbria’s PCSO posts that were under threat will now be saved – but warns the fight is still on to secure more long-term funding for Northumbria Police.

Enhanced neighbourhood policing plans are now set to save 98 PCSO posts, an uplift of 38 on the original 60 posts the force said it would be able to save in March.

Since then, additional grant funding for recruitment has been secured, allowing the force to save more PCSOs than it had previously thought possible.

Plans earlier this year also announced 134 new warranted police officers will be invested into the new neighbourhood policing model to boost police visibility and help prevent crime. This number remains unchanged.

The news will be welcomed by communities across the Northeast who also value the presence of PCSOs in their neighbourhoods.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “We’ve evaluated neighbourhood policing plans in great detail and taken valued feedback on board. To my relief – we have good news – we secured funding for recruitment which thankfully means our PCSO numbers can take less of a hit than we feared. We are now in a financial position where we can retain 38 more PCSOs than we thought.

“We still need more police officers, and police staff supporting them, but until Government funds our police force properly and gives us back our cops we are in uncertain times. Many people and their families are impacted by this. And we still have £10 million we need to save through efficiencies.”

“Like so many others, I really value what our PCSOs bring to local communities and being able to keep nearly 100 in post means we are in a much better place.”

She added: “On another positive note, with smashing targets for recruiting more police officers and now retaining more of our highly valued PCSOs, people can expect to see more of those in uniform out on the streets preventing and fighting crime in their area. As best we can, the Chief Constable and I will keep delivering the visible policing the people of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear expect and deserves.”

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A youth diversion project has been gathering pace in Sunderland City Centre, acting as a last chance for known offenders, to bring an end to their violent crime.

In a short space of time, the project has been showing some fantastic results including a 22% drop in anti-social behaviour compared to the previous year.

The team have hit the ground running as they continue to identify young people causing the most harm in the city centre and working with them to address their behaviour, as well as responding to the wider needs of their families.

This intensive support has seen young people get back into education or take up training and employment opportunities, therefore providing a positive diversion from violent crime.

This project brings together a range of partners including Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, Northumbria Police, Sunderland City Council and Sunderland BID, with the shared goal of tackling serious violence and providing some much needed respite for the city’s businesses and residents.

Now, following the success in Sunderland, work is ongoing to replicate this intensive programme of support in Newcastle, to disrupt violent crime by working with known individuals to address the underlying causes of their offending behaviour.

There is no escape for offenders of violent crime, who will now feel the full force of these diversion projects, and for those who choose not to engage, swift enforcement action will be taken.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “This is the end of the line for those who think it is acceptable to cause chaos and devastation in our communities – and having already seen such positive results in Sunderland, I welcome this work being rolled out by the Violence Reduction Unit, as a last chance for individuals to change their behaviour. It’s vital that we keep throwing everything we can at tackling violent crime to make it as difficult as possible for individuals to continue offending.”

She added: “Our cities have so much to offer, so whether you are heading to the shops, off to a match, enjoying a night out or simply going to work, I want to reassure you that, along with Northumbria Police and other key partners, we will continue to do all we can to prevent crime from happening.”

Councillor Graeme Miller, Leader of Sunderland City Council and Chair of the Safer Sunderland Partnership, said: “It’s brilliant to see the difference this has made in such a short space of time as part of the SAIL Project, which is all about working in partnership to make our city centre a more attractive and safer place to be for everyone who lives, visits and works there.”

Knife Crime and Serious Youth Violence Lead for Northumbria Police, Chief Superintendent Helena Barron, said: “It is fantastic to see projects like this making such a difference to the lives of young people and to the wider community. We welcome the roll out in Newcastle and look forward to seeing the results.

“As a Force, we know how detrimental and disruptive youth disorder, antisocial behaviour and violent crime can be for those caught up in it which is why we are committed to working with our partners to tackle this type of criminality in the most appropriate and effective way.”

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

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COMMUNITY hubs, youth organisations and neighbourhood support services are struggling more from the cost-of-living crisis than during the Covid-19 pandemic, new research from the North East has found.

Kim McGuinness, Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, whose office conducted the research, has warned frontline organisations supporting those in need are struggling with needs of their own – and are desperate for Government to take notice.

The Commissioner has called on Government to introduce emergency Cost of Living grants for charities and neighbourhood groups – as happened during the pandemic.

A survey of nearly 100 frontline organisations aimed to find out how community groups are supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis and to better understand the ongoing concerns of those they support.

Issues raised have ranged from struggles with paying bills, difficulties affording transport to accessing support, and worries around rising crime.

The majority of organisations reported that this crisis has impacted their service even more than the Covid-19 pandemic with many attributing this to the lack of financial support from Government.

The Police and Crime Commissioner’s office helps fund over 140 organisations across Tyne and Wear to prevent crime and improve lives. Representatives from nearly 100 services and community groups voiced their views as part of the survey.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “These community groups and support services have been, and continue to be, a lifeline in the cost-of-living crisis. With some of the highest poverty rates in the country, there’s no doubt the people of the North East are suffering the most.

“We know bills are going up but it’s more than that – one youth worker said kids are coming to them asking ‘what’s for tea?’. That’s because kids are hungry, they don’t want to stress their mams and dads but they need to eat.”

She continued: “All these groups and hubs are ran by people who are motivated with the desire to help others and improve lives in their local neighbourhoods but they are only coping themselves by taking drastic measures. We’ve been hearing how they have been forced to cut salaries, use up reserves, and cancel sessions – it’s clearly a very stressful time for so many.”

Miss McGuinness is calling on the Government to provide a support package for community groups to cover space, transport and funding. She said: “Many people are telling me they feel nobody is recognising all they are doing and nobody is offering to help foot the bill.

“We all know the pandemic took its toll but there was a lot of short-term funding opportunities which have now come to an abrupt end and a lot of vital work and services will come to an abrupt end too if Government doesn’t step in here.”

The full report and research can be viewed and downloaded here.

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POLICE leaders have warned that a police staffing crisis looms despite Government recruitment efforts – as there is still no long-term funding plan to get officer numbers back to pre-austerity levels.

This week the Home Secretary is expected to announce that 20,000 officers have joined UK policing as a result of the high-profile national uplift programme. 

But Northumbria’s Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness says this is no time for celebration as the targets were never enough in the first place and hopes any announcement will include plans for the continued growth needed to fight crime.

Since 2010, Northumbria Police has taken the biggest financial hit of all the forces in England and Wales – losing more than 1,100 officers and £148m in budget cuts – a result of what the PCC calls ‘grossly unfair and regionally biased’ budget cuts.

The Government-funded recruitment campaign was set up to replace officer numbers nationally, but Northumbria Police was only allocated the funds for a maximum of 615 additional recruits. This is 520 short meaning that locally uplift targets set by Government have barely replaced half of those lost.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “Even if the uplift pledge has been met – this is hardly a time for celebration. The numbers suggest police forces are 30,000 officers short of what is needed to keep the British public safe.

“We all know police numbers are nowhere near what they once were. Our communities know – they can tell. In Northumbria, we have exceeded uplift targets and that’s been our own making, our own financial planning, our own difficult decisions – we’ve had to go above and beyond as Government targets were nowhere near enough.

“Our population is growing; poverty is growing yet police numbers are plummeting. Nationally, it’s claimed forces need 50,000 to join to make any meaningful difference so we just have to sit tight until we know more. If there’s no continuation, no real plan, people will be put at risk and communities will suffer. Our region will suffer. 

“We’ve been plagued by cuts in the North East and need a commitment to a consistent recruitment cycle. We need Government to give us back our cops.”

The Police Federation that represents rank-and-file officers has said forces need 50,000 to join to make any meaningful difference.

Steve Hartshorn, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “No doubt it sounds impressive but when juxtaposed against the massive funding cut levied since 2010, which resulted in over 20,000 fewer officers, the annual loss of around 7,000 officers and population growth of more than 3.5 million over the last decade, does it really offer hope of being able to provide a better service?” 

PRESS RELEASE

POLICE Commissioner Kim McGuinness is calling on those who work with men and boys across the region to take up new training to help challenge the behaviours that support harassment and violence against women and girls.

‘Active bystander training’ is a new programme launched this week by the Commissioner’s office as part of determined efforts to prevent the unwelcome behaviours that can increase the likelihood of abuse occurring.

Bystander intervention is viewed by experts as a way that can be effective in preventing assault from happening. This new training is a powerful tool taking you through the steps from noticing a problem, having the confidence to act and determining the best course of action to take.

The innovative training has been designed to empower bystanders and is being delivered by national behaviour change specialists, Kindling Transformative Interventions and Beyond Equality. The training seeks to equip people with the skills and confidence needed to speak up when they notice behaviours that aren’t right such as harassment, sexual harassment, or problematic and threatening behaviour.

National figures show 71 per cent of women have experienced harassment in public spaces. A recent survey by the Commissioner’s office revealed the majority of women would like to see more initiatives to drive the change in attitudes and behaviours towards women and girls. The PCC is making this happen and wants to ensure men and boys are included in part of the solution to tackle the misogyny and sexism that are often at the root of the problem.

Organisations that have signed up to become Active Bystander Trainers so far intend to empower more than 3000 men and boys and people in our communities to become active bystanders before the end of 2023.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “If no one confronts these sexist behaviour and attitudes people continue accepting them as normal – this has to change. By doing nothing we empower the harasser so it’s on us all – we all have to do something.

“It really isn’t always just banter“ she continued, “it’s about how it makes us feel, and what these attitudes and behaviours can lead to.”

“I want people to know there is always something you can do as a bystander and the more active bystanders we have in the North East, the bigger change we can make and the more we can positively impact wider culture on this.

“I really want to urge people, businesses, organisations to get signed up and be that difference. Be the guy telling your mate to pack it in or check a woman is OK. The majority of people know what’s right and what’s wrong and when they see things they want to call it out and intervene but many people are just not sure how to go about it.

“I hope this training will bring real, lasting change to workplaces, organisations and communities across the North East. I see it as an important step forward empowering others in the fight against violence against women and girls and improving lives.”

Lee Crosby, Head of Youth and Community Education at the Foundation of Light in Sunderland, one of the local organisations already signed up said: “The Foundation of Light are proud to part of this new initiative launched by the Police and Crime Commissioner and will use the Active Bystander training to challenge negative behaviours, including harassment and violence against women and girls in the various projects we deliver.

“We want to support the Police and Crime Commissioner’s work embedding positive messages and behaviours throughout the work we do, whilst ensuring prejudice behaviours and attitudes are challenged so women and girls feel safe in the communities in which we live and work.”

Nate Eisenstadt, Co-founder of Kindling and Senior Research Associate at University of Bristol said:

“We’re at a place now in society where most people know when they see something harmful unfolding – what many of us lack is the confidence and skillset to intervene in ways that are effective. This training is about doing just that – it offers people a practical set of tools to step up respond to harm and prevent escalation.

The training is free to attend and is funded as part of the OPCC’s Safer Streets project and the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit.

More info and to sign up click here 

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Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness reacts to Government ASB plans saying “this changes nothing, we still need more police on North East streets and more investment in crime prevention”

GOVERNMENT plans to deal with anti-social behaviour have been met with criticism by a Police and Crime Commissioner who says the announcement simply does not go far enough to reverse 13 years of police and council cuts.

Ministers are to hand Northumbria Police limited funds for extra patrols and making offenders repair the damage they have caused but will not be providing the long-term investment in youth services and family support needed to reverse ASB.

The Government’s latest pledges follows deep cuts to frontline policing since 2010 and Kim says the promises distract from urgent calls to put more officers on the beat.

Since 2010, Northumbria Police has taken the biggest financial hit of all the forces in England and Wales – losing more than 1,100 officers and £148m in budget cuts. Northumbria Police now has 12 per cent fewer officers than it did back in 2010.

Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness said: “13 years of government cuts have caused a rise in ASB and now we’re only getting half the solution. Government has announced limited funds for extra police patrols, but they still owe Northumbria more than 500 extra officers to reverse cuts to police numbers.

“Ministers say they want to tackle ASB but if they do not invest long term in preventing ASB with good neighbourhood services, in youth workers and councils and community hubs, the Government will simply run out of money to deal with those people committing ASB.”

She continued: “This isn’t to make an excuse for those who blight our neighbourhoods, cause damage or make victims of their neighbours.  But in the long-term we can’t arrest our way out of crime.  If we don’t devolve the ability to invest in public services and create real opportunity, we’ll constantly be sending police officers, or the council or the housing association back to the same neighbourhoods to deal with the same repeat offenders from the same households.

“Any funding we can get our hands on for the North East we will welcome but it’s too little too late. Government needs to be to bring child poverty down, to eliminate the root causes of anti-social behaviour and until it does we will be in the position where we simply need more cops on the streets.”

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