LATEST figures from Northumbria Police reveal that assaults on officers were up 38 per cent between April and December 2020 compared to the same period the previous year and assaults using spitting or relating to COVID  have accounted for 29 per cent of those recorded.

These numbers are a stark reminder of the extra risk our police and other key workers face every day, says Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness as she repeats calls to the Government to announce plans for the police’s place on the priority list.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said:

“You can’t argue with these numbers – they show exactly what our police and other emergency workers are being exposed to. I’m talking about really disgusting behaviour where they are fought with, spat at, coughed at and basically being threatened with the virus. For these workers social distancing isn’t even a choice.

“The only solution is an urgent vaccination programme and this needs to happen to keep our workforce numbers strong at what is a crucial time for everyone. This is not only about police officer safety, this is about ensuring public safety too. We don’t have an endless supply of police officers that we can roll out to deal with day to day demands and additional COVID related policing, that’s why it’s so important we do all we can to look after the ones we’ve got.”

She added: “There are, I appreciate, many people who are key workers and deserve to be high on that list too, of course, but for our police including some staff and volunteers, the risks are notably huge.

“I couldn’t agree more when Government says how brave our police are and what an incredible job they are doing but what we really want them to say is when will they get vaccinated. We need a plan and it needs to be put into action. The devil is in the detail on this and we would welcome urgency – that’s the very least our police and their families deserve.”

THOUSANDS HAVE THEIR VIEWS ON POLICING & CRIME HEARD, AS POLICE COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCES FUTURE POLICING PLAN

Northumbria’s Police & Crime Commissioner calls on residents to give their views on her proposed Police & Crime Plan following months of feedback, consultation and opinion gathering across the region.

 The Police & Crime Plan, the document used by the Police & Crime Commissioner to hold the forces Chief Constable to account, has been published in draft form and the Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, is calling on residents to have their say on it.

Following months of consultation, the Commissioner has now proposed her plan for the next 4 years titled ‘Fighting Crime, Preventing Crime’ – priorities in the plan include tackling anti-social behaviour, preventing violent crime and focusing on neighbourhood policing.

Commenting on the response to the consultation, Kim said: “I’m delighted that the people of Northumbria have come forward and given their views – this plan reflects those and aims to deliver on our communities priorities and concerns.”

“I will use the plan to hold the force to account and ensure that we are continuing to deliver a high quality service that our communities expect. Despite the challenges the force have faced in the past 12 months, we’ve still managed to proactively fight crime and this is reflected in the continued fall in crime across the region.”

As an impact of national lockdown and other resulting factors, there was a 13% fall in total recorded crime during the recorded period ending June 2019 in comparison in the same period ending 2020.

Kim continued: “There have been some clear themes and issues highlighted during the consultation period, and I will work with the Chief Constable to address these and ensure they are addressed. Within the plan I have committed to reporting back regularly on our progress, and I believe this transparency is important for communities to understand how we are addressing their concerns.”

Of the priorities identified in the draft plan, anti-social behaviour was the crime with the noticeable increase in reported instances, largely attributed to Covid-19 related issues. Overall ASB increased by 68% during April to August 2020 in comparison to the same period of the previous year.

At the peak during April and May, up to 53% of ASB instances were linked to Covid-19.

Commenting on the changing crime types, Kim said: “The past year has of course been a different one for the force, but they’ve responded professionally and responded accordingly. There has obviously been a change in crime patterns as a result of lockdowns, curfews and restrictions, but as we edge towards a way out of this pandemic, my focus is very much on ensuring crime levels remain as low as we’ve seen throughout the Covid period.”

The plan can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/PCP21Draft – and the public can have their say by emailing enquiries@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk until Thursday 21^st January 2021.

PCC Kim McGuinness asks local people what they would pay to support policing in the region

THE region’s police and crime commissioner Kim McGuinness is asking local people to share their views on how to fund the policing of our communities in the years ahead.

Today, a public consultation on the police precept – the force’s share of local council tax bills – has been launched to find out how much residents are prepared to pay to support the work of police in our area.

The consultation is asking households for their views on a range of increases to the precept.

The lowest potential rise is a 1.99% increase per month, which is 23 pence for a Band D property. This small rise when set against inflation and the rising cost of policing would cover basic cost increases.

Options go up to a £1.25 pence per month rise (10.95%) in the precept which would allow the force to meet all current costs and be better prepared to respond to emerging trends and fight and prevent crime but the Commissioner believes this £15 annual increase per Band D household is too big an ask during a time of widespread unemployment and financial uncertainty.

Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness, said: “Ensuring your police force has what it needs to protect you, your family and your businesses is a key part of my role as your Police and Crime Commissioner. That’s why I need to know how much you’re prepared to pay for good policing. I know times are hard for so many people right now though, especially those whose jobs and livelihoods have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and so it’s really important that you have your say.

“Northumbria Police has taken a real hit in Government funding over the last decade, which has seen budget cuts for the police totalling £144 million. Unfortunately, this places a greater reliance upon the police precept share of your overall council tax bill to fund services.

“For me, it goes without saying that the Government should be doing more to fund police forces – now more than ever. The last 12 months has reinforced just how important our police force is – they’ve done an incredible job working to keep people safe during such difficult times. And we have to remember, the pandemic is far from over, recessions and crime go hand in hand – our police need the resources to deal with these ongoing pressures but it comes at a cost.”

The Northumbria Precept Survey 2021 can be completed here: – http://bit.ly/3nr9zXx

Statement from LA7 leaders

“As we enter the second week of the third national lockdown, we once again thank all residents who have done their bit by staying at home as much possible.

“These efforts, coupled with the widespread compliance with the tiered restrictions beforehand, means infection rates across our region are at a level that is much lower than other parts of the country.

“The current case rate per 100,000 for Tyneside, Wearside, Northumberland and County Durham is less than 400, compared to a rate in excess of 600 per 100,000 for England as a whole.

“The position we find ourselves in may be better than in other parts of the country, but we still have a long way to go and if we are to avoid some of the scenes we’ve seen in London and elsewhere with hospitals reaching capacity with Covid-19 patients, we must continue do everything we can to limit the spread of the virus.

“There is always a delay between the point of infection and people requiring hospital treatment if they become seriously ill, so we cannot afford to let our guard down for a moment if we are to save lives and protect our NHS services.

“What we do know is that the new, more transmissible variant of the virus now accounts for approximately half of all cases in the region. It is well known that this variant is easier to catch and spreads further than the original virus, so we must continue to be vigilant and act like we all have Covid. We cannot allow it to take control.

“For the most part, that means staying at home but for a few exceptional reasons including for exercise, shopping for essentials and travelling to work if you cannot do so from home. You can also leave home to seek help if you are unsafe or at risk of danger. But unless it absolutely necessary for you to go out, you should stay at home and deny the virus any opportunity to spread.

“As Chief Medical Officer Christ Whitty outlined this morning, reducing your social contact with others remains vital and by following the guidance we can all do our bit to protect our communities. Stay local if you do have to go out and if you go somewhere that is already busy, turn around and go home. Less traffic on our roads and fewer pedestrians also reduces the likelihood of accidents and prevents further pressure on the NHS.

“Our police forces and local authority enforcement teams have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to engage with the public and keep us safe. By acting responsibly we can help them to focus on essential day-to-day work.

“The vaccination programme is now in operation and the NHS is working to provide protection to the most vulnerable among us and to health and care staff and this is going on at pace.

“We are working with our NHS colleagues to provide buildings and sites, support with staffing, transporting people to get vaccinated, traffic management, winter maintenance – we know our communities and will do everything in our power to support the vaccination roll out.

“Our region is showing that following the rules is effective for preventing the virus from spiralling out of control and we must continue to follow Hands, Face, Space, getting a test if we have symptoms and do everything we can to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities.

Please stay safe, stay at home where possible and together we will protect the NHS and save lives. Thank You.”

Cllr Simon Henig, CBE, Leader, Durham County Council
Cllr Martin Gannon, Leader, Gateshead Council
Cllr Nick Forbes, CBE, Leader, Newcastle City Council
Norma Redfearn CBE, Elected Mayor, North Tyneside Council
Cllr Glen Sanderson, Leader, Northumberland County Council
Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader, South Tyneside Council
Cllr Graeme Miller, Leader, Sunderland City Council 
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor
Kim McGuinness, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner

COVID vaccines must be rolled out across police forces to ensure public safety, Northumbria police officials have said today.
Northumbria’s Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness, Chief Constable Winton Keenen and Northumbria Police Federation’s Jim Gray are supporting calls for officers and essential police staff to be prioritised, as appropriate, for the vaccine alongside health-workers in order to keep vital public services safe.
Earlier this week the Police Federation called for those serving in our police forces to be soon given access to Covid-19 vaccines, after the most vulnerable members of society and frontline NHS staff.
Backing the calls to prioritise those who are keeping us all safe and policing lockdown, Kim McGuinness yesterday raised the need to vaccinate officers as an urgent matter during a conference call with Policing Minister, Kit Malthouse.
The Commissioner said: “We are in a serious situation and the clock is ticking – the Government needs to apply common sense and get our police vaccinated, and fast.
“No-one can deny the fact that our police officers are out there in the thick of it day in, day out – they’re coming into close contact with a lot of people, in a lot of places. There are, I appreciate, many people who are key workers and deserve to be high on that list too, of course, but for our police the risks are notably huge.
“They’re entering countless homes, being fought with, spat at, coughed at – social distancing isn’t even a choice. The only solution is an urgent vaccination programme and this needs to happen to keep our workforce numbers strong at what is a crucial time for everyone.”
She added: “Yes, we need to protect officers just like they protect us but this is about the much bigger picture too. An officer who gets Covid is either unknowingly spreading it, or, will be isolating and out of action from serving our communities.
“None of this is good and neither should be allowed to happen, not when there is a simple solution – get them vaccinated now. This is ultimately about everyone’s safety and we’ll have to keep shouting until we are heard on this.”
Chief Constable Winton Keenen said: “Throughout this pandemic, officers, staff and volunteers have continued to display unwavering commitment to serving the communities we are privileged to be a part of here in the North East.
“I am immensely proud of the way they have overcome the challenges brought about by Covid-19 while also meeting the demands of regular policing.
“In doing so it is important to recognise that, by the very nature of the duties they are carrying out, it is inevitable they will be regularly engaging with members of the public.
“It is right that we should look at how we can best protect both them and those they come into contact with – and also maintain vital policing numbers so we are able to provide the very best service possible.
“I therefore welcome the discussions which are being held to ensure those on the frontline, working to keep us all safe, can also feel assured that a vaccine is on its way to them as soon as the vulnerable groups have been completed.”
Inspector Jim Gray, the Chairman of Northumbria Police Federation, the staff association for rank and file Police Officers, said: “We are calling for officers to be given appropriate priority, after the most vulnerable and frontline NHS staff, for access to the Covid-19 vaccine.
“Police officers deal with countless and varied interactions with members of the public on a daily basis and it is not always possible to reduce the risk of contracting the virus because the nature of our role is that interactions are often spontaneous, sometimes violent and require the use of force and restraint. This reality means that officers and their families are at significantly increased risk of contracting the virus.”
He added: “It simply cannot be right that police officers, those people who, day in day out, put themselves in harm’s way to uphold the law, protect the public and who are now responsible for policing this pandemic and enforcing Covid-19 linked legislation, have not been identified as a group of people who should be afforded appropriate priority when it comes to the vaccine. Sometimes society should do its bit to protect those who protect us all.”
ENDS

STATEMENT FROM LA7 LEADERS

National lockdown required to slow spread of Covid-19.

“Covid-19 is continuing to ramp up the pressure on NHS services nationally and it is abundantly clear that national action is required.

“We are all aware of the challenges hospitals are facing as infections continue to rise with more and more people becoming seriously ill and requiring medical attention as a result.

“A national lockdown is now the only sensible course of action. Tiered restrictions appear to be failing to slow down transmission and the new, more transmissible variant of the virus continues to spread rapidly through communities up and down the country. We have seen in London and the South East what impact this variant can have on health services, and we must strive to do everything in our power to prevent local services reaching capacity as they have elsewhere.

“We also know that the variant is present in our region and our cases will continue to get worse before they get better and, coupled with the fact we are yet to see the impact of the relaxation of the rules on Christmas Day in the data, we must all do our bit while the vaccination programme is carried out.

“It remains essential that we all continue to follow the national public health guidance and stay at home as much as possible, keep your distance from others if you do need to leave your home, wash your hands regularly, wear a face covering when required and get tested if you have symptoms. It is important to keep homes well ventilated as well by opening windows periodically.

“Infections are higher than ever before and if the Government does not respond accordingly the consequences will be dire.

“Our communities have already endured so much hardship and it is difficult to once again accept the situation we are in, but we must take a pro-active approach as introducing further measures targeted at the prevention of further spread of the virus is much better than having to act to cure the problem at a later date.

“A national lockdown period will provide clear and consistent guidance requiring people in all parts of the country to remain at home except for essential reasons and significantly limit the opportunities for the virus to spread from person to person.

“We also know this is a challenging time for schools, their staff, pupils and parents. Within our own local authority areas, we will continue to support all educational settings to continue to review their individual circumstances and support whatever decision they make.

“For those pupils who will continue learning from home we will give whatever support we can to assist in the continuity of their learning. Our priority is educating our young people, but this must be done with the safety of school staff, pupils and their parents at the forefront of our minds.

“We cannot allow this virus to completely overwhelm our hospitals, especially when there is so much hope on the horizon with the scaling up of the vaccination programme.

“The Government must act now to protect our communities and prevent more lives being lost to this deadly disease.”

Cllr Simon Henig, CBE, Leader, Durham County Council
Cllr Martin Gannon, Leader, Gateshead Council
Cllr Nick Forbes, CBE, Leader, Newcastle City Council
Norma Redfearn CBE, Elected Mayor, North Tyneside Council
Cllr Glen Sanderson, Leader, Northumberland County Council
Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader, South Tyneside Council
Cllr Graeme Miller, Leader, Sunderland City Council
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor
Kim McGuinness, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner