SCHOOLCHILDREN, particularly in deprived areas are crying out for fun activities over the summer holidays to help stop them getting in trouble with the law, says Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness, as she launches a new funding opportunity for local communities

Today (Monday 30^th May) the Commissioner has re-opened her Operation Payback funding pot with more than £150,000 up for grabs. She is inviting local youth groups and community groups to apply for a share and is wanting to hear new activity ideas that would help curb summer anti-social behaviour across the region.

Operation Payback uses cash criminals have taken from communities in the Northumbria Police Force area and puts it back into projects and initiatives that make a difference to the places that need it most.

The aim of the fund is to support the work of Northumbria Police and help prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, which will in turn improve lives for local people.

PCC Kim McGuinness wants to see positive activities such as sports tournaments, dance classes and DJ-ing workshops fill the summer holidays, especially for those less fortunate in the North-East.

She hopes to get a range of ideas to cover all six local authority areas (Northumberland, Newcastle, Sunderland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Gateshead) and aims to have funding allocated in time for kids breaking up from school for the summer.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “So many families really feel the pressure of the summer holidays and in some cases. especially when money is tight, or mam and dad are working, kids get left to their own devices with little to do. That’s just the way it is. It’s a real help to parents to know there are places their kids can go and things they can do.

“The ‘Cost of Living’ crisis is hitting far too many people, particularly in our region, and not everyone can afford days out at theme parks or to jet off somewhere sunny. So, this is me asking young people and asking communities – what do they want to have on offer, on their doorstep, to help keep them entertained.

“There’s no better use for cash seized from crime than channelling it right back into communities to help prevent more crime. Yes, our police know local ASB hotspots and are busy planning extra patrols and crackdown operations, particularly in our open spaces and on public transport, but if we are going to curb the number of incidents, I want to throw everything at helping young people access the alternative – let’s prevent crime in the first place.

“And this isn’t all about the kids,” she continued. “This helps improve the quality of life for everyone in our communities and reduces the number of victims. People tell me they feel intimidated by groups of youths gathering at the Metro or vandalising their local park. I want to give kids a far more attractive way to spend their time, exploring their talents – boxing, dance, football, music – you tell me.”

Operation Payback is part of a much wider of action happening across the Northumbria Police force area, with further ASB related projects to be announced by Kim McGuinness as chair of the local ASB Board before the summer holidays. Activities planned for later in the year to help curb ASB around Halloween are also welcomed.

The ASB Board was established by the PCC earlier this year and brings together local authorities and public transport operators.

Applications close on Sunday 19^th June 2022.

For further information on how to apply visit HERE.

BUSES are hugely important to the people of the North-East with 162 million bus journeys made each year and now Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness is launching a survey to understand how these journeys can be made safer for everyone.

In order to steer improvements across the region, Kim McGuinness is inviting those who use our buses, as well as those who for whatever reason choose not to, to have their say on how we can improve bus safety for and ensure people feel comfortable climbing on board.

Last year, the PCC’s transport survey found that people want public transport that is not only reliable and affordable, but safe too.

In response to initial concerns raised, the Commissioner’s office secured funding to develop a Safer Transport Northumbria App, with the support of Northumbria Police, Nexus Stagecoach, Go North East and Arriva.

The app was designed to help make it easier for passengers to report any behaviour that makes them, or others, feel uncomfortable when on the bus or Metro such as verbal abuse or racism.

The app is also there for reporting women’s safety concerns after studies found women are ten per cent more likely to feel unsafe than men on urban public transport.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “I want to know what bothers people about buses, and what we can do about it. We’ll be at bus stops and stations throughout the region, speaking to passengers asking them about the things our bus services get right but also where things need to be improved.

“I’ve done public transport surveys in the past and know people want buses that are affordable and reliable, but they also want to know they are safe too and I want to dig deeper into this – the routes, the reliability, the reporting. I know our bus operators haven’t had it easy in recent years with countless cuts to funding and the pandemic, but this is about looking ahead.

“Buses help thousands of passengers travel every day to get to school, work or to the shops. With the cost-of-living crisis only going to get worse, and as one of the most poverty-stricken regions in the country it’s imperative people can access a bus service – a bus servicer that works for them. Family budgets are tighter than ever and our buses have to be an attractive option opening up opportunities.

“I want to represent the voice of local passengers and this is their chance to be heard. I want to look into how we can make journeys safer for all and the more insight we get, the more improvements we can look at making.”

The bus consultation will be taking place at the following locations:

1. Blyth bus station, 24th May, 10:00 – 12:00
2. Gateshead Interchange, 25th May, 09:00 – 11:00
3. Park Lane bus station, 25th May, 14:00 – 16:00

The information gathered will be used to tell operators and tell our police what’s going well and what’s going not so well.

For more information and to complete the survey, please click HERE.

Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said: “Having a safe, secure network is a key part of our region’s Transport Plan – our shared vision for how we want our transport network to look and feel by 2035.

“We continue to work with partners to make the bus network safer and I look forward to seeing the results of this consultation in due course. Please take a moment to have your say on this important issue – it’s really important that passengers feel safe.”

ENDS

TWO MILLION pounds worth of force-wide projects to improve public safety and tackle anti-social behaviour on nights out and on public transport, will be rolled-out across the region if a funding bid made by Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness is successful.

Last week, Kim McGuinness’s office applied for Home Office Safer Streets funding outlining detailed initiatives to make people feel safer.

These plans include enhanced police patrols on nights out and more overtime for officers on the Metro. Policing will be supported with more street pastors across transport networks, youth diversion schemes, improvements to underpasses, safe-haven and victim support and programmes and campaigns to change views and behaviours as well as raising awareness.

Since securing previous Safer Streets funding, a lot of work has been underway to help people feel safe. There have been more Northumbria Police officers out in the night-time economy as part of Operation Cloak, a Fun without Fear campaign has been launched with local authorities and a Safer Transport Northumbria reporting app has gone live.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “Over the years we’ve seen this Government let the North-East down with cuts after cuts and so I am appealing to them directly with this. There’s too much at stake here. Our needs in Northumbria simply can’t be ignored.

“If there is any real care, any truth in their intentions of improving women’s safety and bringing crime like ASB down, Government will hand over the cash we need to keep building on the good work we have started around prevention, changing behaviours, raising awareness and supporting those who need it.

“We know the investigative response to awful crimes like sexual offences is good but this is reactive. I want to see a really proactive approach, where we get ahead of these problems – there has to be a focus on preventing these things from happening at all.

“Northumbria needs support with this work if we are going to bring about real change though and I hope this time round we find out if we have been successful without delay. The delays last time only added to our frustrations and held up crucial work that can have a real impact.

“We know what we’ve got to do and we just want to get on with the job – but it’s over to the Government to not let the people of the North East down. We’ve got a strong bid in, it’s in their hands now.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness has worked on the funding bid with all six local authorities in the force area, with the aim of improving the safety of public spaces for all.

Kim McGuinness is calling for views to shape a new Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) action plan for the Northumbria Police force area.

Determined plans to tackle crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence are being drawn up for the Northumbria Police force area. Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness has launched a public consultation inviting local people to share their concerns, experiences and ideas to help shape plans.

With the numbers of violence against women and girls-related reports to police increasing each year, the need to address the violence, abuse and misogyny that’s evident in Northumbria and beyond, couldn’t be more important for PCC Kim McGuinness.

As a leading local campaigner around the treatment of women and girls, the Commissioner says when it comes to the scale of the problem the numbers speak for themselves and that worryingly the abuse our police know about, just like other forces, is likely to be only the tip of the iceberg. It is estimated that only 15% of sexual offences are reported to the police.

Figures for the Northumbria Police force area reveal:

• 42 domestic homicides since 2011
• 4,438 sexual assaults reported in Northumbria in 2019/20 alone
• Nationally, 1 in 3 women and girls will experience some form of sexual abuse in their lifetime.

Launching a public consultation to inform plans that will set out ways of working together to end violence and abuse of women and girls, PCC Kim McGuinness, said: “Not only as your Police and Crime Commissioner, but as a woman, I am passionate about fighting for a North East where our girls and women are safe and free from abuse, violence and inequality.

“I’m grateful to be in a position where I can drive real change forward, and I know there are many others across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear who share this aim – we want to lead the way with this. From service specialists and police officers, right through to young girls and their mams who know these crimes disproportionately affect them – people want violence against women and girls to end once and for all.”

Explaining the aims of the consultation that is underway, Kim said: “I’m all for open and honest conversation around this. I’m here to listen and I’m so appreciative of anyone who responds – whether that’s sharing their experiences or challenging for improvement. Together, I want to look at issues that just aren’t going away and pave a way forward.

“Northumbria Police, thankfully, is one of the best in its approach to policing violence against women and girls but we don’t always get things right and the challenge remains a huge one. I know there are so many people and organisations across our region who are full of determination to work together to prevent and tackle this violence and abuse and make our region safer for women and girls. From changing behaviours to enhancing support and improving prosecutions, there’s a lot that we need to get right and this plan will ultimately set out how we intend to do so.”

The Violence Against Women and Girls strategy will focus on support for victims, preventing abuse and violence in the first place, working with perpetrators and system change. The consultation survey can be completed here.

VAWG is rooted in the inequality of women and girls and is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men against women and girls – in the year ending March 2020 alone, there were an estimated 618,000 female victims (aged 16-74) and 155,000 male victims of sexual assault (including attempts). 98.3% of perpetrators were male.

However, men and boys can also be victims of violence and abuse, and women can perpetrate abuse. While the term ‘violence against women and girls’ is used, this refers to all victims of any of these offences. I am committed to tackling VAWG crimes in any form and ensuring support for all victims, regardless of sex or gender.

If you’ve witnessed or been the victim of crime, help and support is available from the Northumbria Victim and Witness Service on 0800 011 3116.

ENDS

As it heads into its fourth year, PCC Kim McGuinness’ Violence Reduction Unit has announced how it plans to ramp up its successful work that has seen a 30 per cent fall in young people re-offending across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear.

Last year, following lockdown and the re-opening of the night-time economy, serious violence increased by 27% but is starting to fall with figures showing a 9% reduction from November, and the Commissioner wants to see everything possible being done to keep pushing this figure down

The Violence Reduction Unit’s fourth year plan will work see it:

• use data and intelligence to target hotspot areas.
• work closely with the whole of the family of repeat offenders to tackle violence.
• build on community-based interventions and diversionary activities to reduce vulnerability and tackle offending.
• Educate young people on the dangers and consequences of violent crime to help prevent them becoming involved.

Since Kim McGuinness set up the Violence Reduction Unit in 2019, the force area has seen a continued fall in re-offending rates, with offences committed by young people showing the most significant drop of almost 30%.

Building on the positive work to date, the Violence Reduction Unit’s interventions continue to show impact with:

• 75% of those engaging in the custody diversion project have reduced involvement with the Criminal Justice System and plans to help keep out of trouble.
• 68% of young people on the YOLO programme have not offended since.
• 62% of those on the Employment and Women’s Pathways have not re-offended since.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “I’ve set out a clear commitment to fight poverty and to fight crime and the work of the Violence Reduction Unit is so crucial when it comes to preventing crime and improving the lives of those who are most vulnerable to exploitation.

“Sadly, where poverty is most prevalent we tend to see more victims of violence and that’s not fair – but we cannot just arrest our way out the problem. That’s where the Violence Reduction Unit comes in, helping people at risk of becoming a victim or becoming drawn into crime. A lot of the community and intervention work is about getting to the bottom of the underlying causes of serious violence. And we have a brilliant team who go into schools educate kids. This work, along with diversionary activities – the clubs, the sports, the mentors – it’s about showing people a life without crime”.

Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit Director, Steven Hume said: “The North East is a phenomenal place to live and work and we want to make sure it remains a safe place too. That is why we are taking such a radical approach to tackling violent crime and reducing the risks for those most vulnerable to exploitation, before issues we are seeing on a national scale become a problem here. We know that we can’t resolve issues overnight, which is why our plan is for the long-term, working collaboratively with our partners so that we can continue to identify areas in most need of action, engage with communities, provide diversionary activities and educate young people.

In a recent survey, Ipsos MORI found that for every £1 invested in Violence Reduction Units, £3 is saved to the public purse. The most recent local evaluation conducted on year 2 activities showed savings of £7.5 million per year.

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

POLICE COMMISSIONER BACKS NEW TARGETED DRUGS PROJECT AS STAGGERING HOSPITAL ADMISSION FIGURES REVEAL THE TRUE IMPACT OF ADDICITON

Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness has spoken of her pride at how Northumbria Police has taken £1m of illegal drugs off Newcastle’s streets in the past year, as staggering figures around drug and alcohol misuse across the city have been revealed.

Alarming numbers were shared at a conference this week highlighting the reality of addictions and show the North-East region has had the highest drug related death rate for the past few years.

Figures have also shown that between January and March this year, the North East Ambulance services reported 1218 alcohol-related call outs within the Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Group alone.

Over the last year, Project Adder, an innovative project designed to tackle drug misuse, disrupt the supply chain, and topple the criminal groups profiting from the harm it causes, has been working in direct response to the city’s drug problems.

The project has brought Northumbria Police, Newcastle City Council, and local recovery services together and has marked its first year with very promising results.

As well as seizing £1m of illegal drugs successes include: 35 organised crime groups disrupted, 307 arrests and 1000 young people supported through harm reduction outreach work.

Addressing the room at the Project Adder Conference on Wednesday, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “To prevent crime, we must help those offending because of exploitation addiction and inequality. And to fight crime we must back our police who pursue these organised criminals who push drugs into our communities.

“There’s no two ways about it the numbers paint a very bleak reality – a crisis – and we have to get tough and throw everything we’ve got at this; we have to fight drug related crime head on, and we are. There really has been a lot of work going into getting this project off the ground and we are starting to see its impact.

“From £1m worth of class A drugs seized to more family support and recovery services available to those in need. These are wins that will benefit not just those struggling with addiction, but also the communities and residents of Newcastle who have to deal with the consequences of these untreated addictions.”