The latest data shows real impact over the last 12 months, with a 9% drop in hospital admissions caused by sharp objects, and a 4.2% drop in offences involving the possession of a weapon.

Established in 2019, the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit takes a long-term, public health approach to tackling serious violence, addressing its root causes through early intervention and targeted initiatives.

Over the past year, a wide range of interventions have been delivered with partners to respond to local needs. These are just some of the initiatives making a difference across the region:

• Violence Reduction Education Officers delivered 654 sessions to 23,298 young people, increasing awareness of a range of topics including knife crime, county lines and online safety.
• The Violence Prevention Ambassadors e-learning programme received over 800 sign-ups, with almost 300 individuals completing all four modules, joining a growing network of informed ambassadors.
• 261 professionals received workplace domestic abuse and vulnerability awareness training, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to spot signs of harm, and support those who need it most.
• Student Support Champions provided tailored, one to one support to 117 young people, with over 86% saying their concerns were listened to, helping them to them enjoy and engage with the work.
• Through the Local Youth Fund, young people across the region secured £13,500 to lead innovative projects designed to prevent serious violence, promote positive choices, and improve local areas.
• The SAIL team in Sunderland continues to take a multi-agency approach, working with targeted cohorts to reduce offending by offering tailored support that meets individual needs. Many young people have reduced or stopped harmful behaviour through consistent guidance and trusted relationships.
• The Seasonal Violence programme, which increases activity during the popular summer and winter months, continues to see reductions in serious violence, knife crime and anti-social behaviour.

This week, partners from the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, Police, Fire and Rescue, Local Authorities, Education, and Health, came together for the first Serious Violence Reduction Board meeting of the year.

The partnership reviewed progress from the last 12 months, discussed emerging trends and new ideas, and explored how existing initiatives could be strengthened to deliver even greater impact – ensuring a joined-up approach to tackling serious violence in the year ahead.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth said: “This isn’t just about preventing violent crime, it’s about changing lives for the better. Quick fixes won’t do that, which is why we need solutions that bring lasting change. That means continuing to invest in prevention, intervening early, educating and empowering young people, supporting families, and creating positive opportunities that steer individuals away from crime.”

“Through the Violence Reduction Unit, and our partners, we are committed to ensuring you feel safe, whether out in public places, or in the comfort of your own home. We will keep listening to what matters most to you and adapting our approaches, because for every individual we reach, and every life we help steer away from harm, is another step towards safer streets and stronger communities for everyone.”

Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit Director, Steven Hume, said: “A long-term public health approach, focusing on prevention and early intervention is essential, and so are the strong partnerships that we have across Northumbria. We’re starting to see the results of our collective efforts, and together we will continue to tackle the root causes of serious violence.”

For more about the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, visit the website or email vru@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk

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SCHOOLS across Northumbria are being encouraged to plan ahead for 2026 by signing up to a specialist stalking prevention programme delivered by the Alice Ruggles Trust and commissioned by Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth.

From September 2026, updated national Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance will require schools to include teaching about stalking and so the PCC is urging teachers to act now to get educational inputs in the timetable.

The Alice Ruggles Trust delivers age-appropriate assemblies that help young people recognise stalking behaviours, understand their impact, and know where to seek help. Since the programme began in Northumbria, the Trust has delivered 45 assemblies, reaching more than 3,150 students in schools across the force area.

Just before Christmas, the Government launched its new Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy detailing stalking as a key priority. This focus aligns with the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan and local VAWG strategy, all of which emphasise the need for prevention, early intervention and education — particularly among children and young people.

Recent national figures highlight why education is so important. Office for National Statistics data shows that young people aged 16–19 are the age group most likely to experience stalking, with around 8.8% reporting stalking victimisation in the last year. Within this age group, more than one in ten young women and nearly one in fifteen young men reported being stalked — a higher proportion than any older age group.

Stalking affecting young people increasingly involves online and digital behaviours, including repeated unwanted messaging, monitoring through social media, and misuse of technology such as location sharing. These behaviours can be easily minimised or misunderstood, particularly by teenagers, making education in schools a critical part of prevention.

Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “Stalking can start young and can escalate if it is not challenged early. That’s why education is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent harm before it happens. Schools play a vital role in helping children and young people understand healthy relationships, boundaries and consent — including in online spaces.

“With stalking now included in updated RSHE guidance from September 2026, I am highlighting this programme to support our schools with this and am encouraging them to plan ahead and take advantage of this programme from The Alice Ruggles Trust. Thousands of young people in Northumbria have already received this vital education, and I want to see it reach more and more.”

Lydia Bond, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Northumbria area said: “The Alice Ruggles Trust was established in Alice’s name to improve understanding of stalking through education. Our school programme helps young people recognise stalking behaviours, including those that occur online, whether they are experiencing, witnessing , or engaging in them, and to understand where to seek support.

With stalking recognised as a priority within the national Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and new RSHE requirements, this is a crucial opportunity for schools to embed specialist and evidence-based education that empowers students to challenge harmful behaviours and play a role in long-term prevention.”

The Alice Ruggles Trust was established in memory of Alice Ruggles, who was murdered by her stalker in 2016. The Trust works nationally to improve understanding of stalking and strengthen responses through education, training and awareness-raising.

Schools interested in taking part in the programme are encouraged to register their interest by emailing lydia@alicerugglestrust.org.

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NORTHUMBRIA’s Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth has today launched her annual survey asking residents for their views on the part of the council tax that pays for local policing.

The PCC is committed to ensuring Northumbria Police delivers on the priorities set by the public in her Plan for Safer Streets and Stronger Communities. And so, she wants to know how much local people are prepared to contribute to help keep neighbourhoods safe, especially when financial pressures aren’t only impacting police budgets, but household finances too.

With early indications from government suggesting grant funding will fall short due to inflation, and national policy changes, the Commissioner is asking residents if they would support a small council tax increase, as they have in recent years. Residents of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear would still pay the lowest policing precept in England and Wales.

Rising costs are placing pressure on police budgets just as they are on household finances, so the PCC is asking for a precept increase of 19p per week, however this does leave a funding gap for Northumbria Police of £6.1m – a concern she is raising with Government

The PCC also needs to know, through this precept consultation, if local people would pay a little extra to retain current resourcing levels and investment in policing. This would be a precept increase of 37p per week for a Band A property.

This would help ensure vital services can continue to meet the community’s needs and help protect frontline services. Northumbria Police will also continue to invest in priorities such as further reducing anti-social behaviour, new technologies and proactively safeguarding women and girls.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “The police precept helps provide essential support for neighbourhood policing and the resources required to keep our communities safe. The budget will be tight and unfortunately there are difficult choices to be made – raising a precept being one. Just a small increase would help us to keep our heads above water whilst continuing to invest in the improvements that matter most to local people, despite these difficult financial challenges.

“Although the role of PCC is changing in 2028, right now I have a job to do — and that is to make sure Northumbria Police is properly resourced and in the best possible position to deliver for our communities. People’s views on the police part of their taxes is an essential part of this, and I recognise that while our police force is facing financial pressures, so too are many households in our area.

She continued: “We have made real progress over the last year— from faster response times to reductions in crime across all area commands. This all demonstrates the impact of sustained investment in local policing. I am determined to build on this good work but fully recognise the need for investment to help meet operational demands, boost visibility in our communities and keep delivering on the issues that matter for the people of Northumberland, Tyne, and Wear.”

Northumbria Police will continue to provide value for money, and the PCC has made it clear that any budget decisions must help protect the frontline and maintain the progress made over the last year.

Complete survey

Survey closes Monday 19 January

Statement in response to the new VAWG Strategy launched by the Home Office

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said:

“We finally have a new national strategy – one that recognises VAWG as the serious threat that it is – and crucially recognises the parts the whole of society can play to improve safety for our women and girls in the future.

“While I welcome the approach, I’m proud Northumbria is already leading the way with how we put victims first, prioritise prevention, target perpetrators early, and work hand-in-hand with partners and communities to improve response and systems. We were at the forefront of introducing domestic abuse specialists in our control rooms, have long had a specialist rape investigation unit and have a range of policing operations that seek out predatory behaviours before harm happens. All this, and more, is designed to boost victim confidence, and get ahead before the harm takes hold.

“Our own local VAWG strategy already recognises the need to tackle root causes and educate people. The issue is about so much more than enforcement – we need long-term culture change. That’s why my office has long been championing work around training, awareness campaigns and bystander education – all designed to shift attitudes and encourage reporting.

“A stand out focus of the strategy is clearly our young people – and the role of our schools. We already commission a range of educational inputs and resources working closely with partners such as the Alice Ruggles Trust and Rape Crisis Tyne and Wear and through the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit schools can sign up to the popular Pol-Ed programme designed to enhance learning around healthy relationships and the law. We support the whole school approach laid out in the strategy and as an office believe we have lots in place that can benefit local schools helping teachers tackle misogyny in the classroom. I am pleased Government is investing in this work and training to support it.

“Let’s be clear though, tackling these crimes requires more than words — it demands partnership and sustained action – and I know we are already committed to this in our region. I look forward to building on this work to make the Government’s strategy real on the ground.”

RESPONDING to growing online crime demands, tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), and building on significant reductions in anti-social behaviour are set to define policing in the year ahead – that’s according to Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth.

Speaking at the latest Police and Crime Panel in Gateshead on Tuesday (16, December) she said these areas represent “the most urgent and fast-evolving challenges facing Northumbria Police,” and confirmed that they will be key areas for investment in 2026 as the force continues to adapt to changing crime trends both on the streets and online.

She highlighted that online crime has risen by 24%, since the introduction of the Online Safety Act. This Act covers a broad range of crimes to better protect victims and encourage reporting – recognising the harmful impact these crimes can have on people’s lives. These new laws encompass sexual violence and harassment, intimate image abuse and child sexual abuse as well as inciting violence and racially or religiously aggravated public order offences. She went on to express the need for officers to have the right tools, skills and capacity to tackle growing challenges presented by the digital world.

She also renewed her commitment to tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, drawing the Panel’s attention to the scale of the issue. One in five calls to the police control room now relates to VAWG, underscoring the need for sustained focus and prevention and education work.

Alongside these growing demands, the Commissioner vowed to keep up momentum in reducing antisocial behaviour. Recent data shows a 22% fall in ASB across the force, with Project Shield hotspot areas achieving an impressive 32% reduction in Quarter 2 compared with the same period last year. She confirmed that a new ASB Action Plan will be developed to build on this progress.

These priorities were underlined as she told the Police and Crime Panel about the emerging pressures facing the force and the strong foundations laid over the past year. She reported that 93% of 999 calls are now answered within 10 seconds, and overall recorded crime has continued to fall, which she welcomed.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth said: “There are some pleasing figures here to end the year on and I welcome them, but with caution – the policing landscape is shifting, and our police need to be ready for the challenges ahead. From rising online crime to the volume of VAWG calls received every day, officers must continue to evolve their response to meet new demands and growing pressures, so they keep delivering for the public. While the public rightly value visible policing in their communities, it is equally vital that officers have the capacity and resources to investigate ever-growing online offending too. For me, my mission to deliver safer streets and stronger communities continues – and this needs to be both in person and online. I will keep working alongside our police force, partners and the public to keep making progress to improve feelings of safety and keep driving crime down.”

NORTHUMBRIA Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, says a collective mission to tackle anti-social behaviour is working – as new data confirms the growing impact of Project Shield.

The latest quarter figures show targeted action in priority locations across the force area has delivered a 32% reduction in ASB, and on the region’s transport network this has fallen by an even sharper 38% – when compared to the same period during the previous year.

These reductions have been achieved with the help of 8,465 additional hours of police and partner patrols funded through Project Shield. Alongside this the initiative has rolled out youth diversion schemes, and policing tactics like the popular Trojan bus. This is a decoy bus carrying plain clothes officers used to catch offenders unaware.

During Quarter 2 alone, Shield teams made 67 arrests, conducted 113 stop and searches, used 13 ASB powers, undertook 39,925 engagements, and seized 13 weapons.

Funded through £1.8 million secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner via the Government’s Hotspot Action Fund, Project Shield was the first initiative to be introduced by the Commissioner since taking office.

It brings together Northumbria Police, British Transport Police, Nexus, Stagecoach and all six local authorities, combining high-visibility patrols with long-term problem solving to address the root causes of ASB and tackle serious violence.

Alongside the police, community safety officers and transport staff on patrol, the project has a dedicated team of analysts and researchers who ensure deployments are guided by local intelligence and real-time data — allowing resources to be focused where they make the greatest difference.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth said:

“Our mission to tackle anti-social behaviour is working — and these figures prove it. People told us they wanted more visibility; more action and more results. That’s exactly what Project Shield is delivering; great ASB reductions in our targeted areas, particularly on our transport.

“Residents have been telling me they feel safer because they’re seeing more uniforms out and about and retailers, I’ve been speaking to have said they’ve noticed improvements too. For me, this is targeted neighbourhood policing at its best.”

“Since launching Project Shield, we’ve seen it go from strength to strength, and it shows how we are putting my Police and Crime Plan for safer streets and stronger communities into action – working together to tackle things like ASB and serious violence.

Looking ahead to 2026, the Commissioner emphasised her determination to build on this year’s progress: “These are strong results to end the year on, and I want us to keep going further: continuing to cut crime, strengthening our partnership work, and improving how safe people feel in every neighbourhood. People want more of this — and I look forward to continuing to monitor the project’s progress into the new year.”

Superintendent Scott Cowie, of Northumbria Police’s Prevention department, said: “These latest figures are testament to the hard work and dedication of our officers and partnership staff working on Project Shield.

“The statistics show that we are significantly driving down ASB, particularly on our transport network where everyone should feel safe and secure when travelling around our region.

“The feedback we’re getting from members of the public and businesses is that they are seeing a real tangible difference right across our communities. This is something we aim to build on in the coming weeks and months with further activity planned, using all of the powers and tactics available to us.

“Rest assured, we remain determined as ever to do everything we can to further reduce ASB. To the public, thank you for your support and please continue to help us by reporting any crime or suspicious activity in your area so that we can grow our intelligence picture and plan accordingly.”

Erika Allen, Quality Health Safety Security and Environment (QHSSE) Director at Nexus, said: “It’s great to see Project Shield having such a positive impact in lowering crime and anti-social behaviour on our public transport network.

“Nexus has a key part to play in supporting the police and our local authority partners in keeping the public safe and secure when using the local bus and Metro system.

“This builds on the work we have already done to improve safety and security on the transport network, including the roll out of our dedicated security teams and investment in new CCTV.”

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