The North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) scored a number of major successes over the past year.

NEROCU delivers an increased response to tackling, disrupting and dismantling serious and organised crime that goes beyond Force borders in the North East region. They provide additional specialist support through effective partnership working and collaboration.

It has specialist capabilities, which are delivered regionally but available to all police forces. They work together to tackle organised crime groups involved in the likes of drugs and firearms supply, organised immigration crime, acquisitive crime, human trafficking and exploitation, money laundering and fraud, prison corruption and intel, and cyber related crimes.

Among the successes over the past year were:

• 44% increase in disruptions to criminal activity by the Cyber Team from 2023-24 to 2024-25.
• 80% increase in disruptions by The Regional Economic Crime Coordination Centre (RECCC) which targets crimes such as fraud and money laundering.
• 151 larger-scale disruptions in the sale and supply of drugs across the North East. Supporting North East forces’ own operations such as Op City- an investigation into an organised crime gang (OCG) involved in drugs supply.

Major successes during 2024-25 included:

Operation Mille – a national, cross-border operation to target Western Balkan OCGs. A total of 28 warrants executed across the three North East force areas, leading to nine arrests and seizure of over 4,784 cannabis plants with a street value of over £4.5 million.

Operation Green – an operation into the production of Cannabis in Cleveland. It uncovered plants to the value of £1.7 million as well as recovering a significant amount of cash, Class A drugs, illegal tobacco and suspected forged or fraudulent documents.

Operation Birchwood – a NEROCU-led investigation into serious and organised acquisitive crime in the Northumbria force area. It followed a series of high value burglaries which resulted in losses of over £1.3 Million. The four members of the OCG were arrested and subsequently sentenced to over 31 years imprisonment in total.

Operation Grape – an investigation into Organised Immigration Crime in the Durham area which was triggered when intelligence suggested people were living and working in unsafe conditions – including a woman and young child who were safeguarded.

NEROCU is part-funded by and works with North East Police and Crime Commissioners, Cleveland Police, Northumbria Police and Durham Constabulary under the banner of Operation Sentinel – the united regional response to tackling Serious and Organised Crime in all forms.

Assistant Chief Constable Alastair Simpson, NEROCU Senior Responsible Officer, said: “Our latest annual figures have really highlighted the outstanding work done by our specialist teams here at NEROCU.

“The work they do can be tough and complex but the dedication to their work is the reason so many threats to our communities are now behind bars.

“Our work cannot be done without the support of our fantastic regional police forces and the other partners we work with. Here in the North East, it is because we stand united against Serious and Organised Crime that we make the impact we do.”

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “Working with regional and national partners to protect our communities and tackle serious and organised crime is right up there in my list of priorities for Northumbria Police and I regularly meet with NEROCU partners to keep updated on developments which align with my Police and Crime Plan.

“It is evident real progress is being made in this area and I want residents to feel reassured that we’re coming down hard on crime gangs, large scale drug supplies have been disrupted and those masterminding high value burglaries have been caught and are behind bars. Countless operations have also led to the safeguarding of vulnerable people who have been exploited by these hardened criminals at the top of the chain. I am grateful of the co-ordinated efforts across the region to disrupt these criminals and protect people – it’s a key part of delivering safer streets and stronger communities.”

Regional organised crime units are an essential part in the fight against serious and organised crime. They provide the main link between the National Crime Agency and police forces in England and Wales.

If you want to find out more about the work being done to tackle Serious and Organised Crime in the North East you can visit the NEROCU website.

If you want to know more about what your Police and Crime Commissioner is doing in your area, you can visit their website:

Northumbria: Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner

NORTHUMBRIA Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, is conducting a survey to help shape victim support services available for people affected by crime across Northumberland and Tyne & Wear.

A key part of this ‘victim needs assessment’ is a survey inviting local people to have their say to help improve the experiences for future victims.

The PCC’s new Northumbria Victims of Crime Survey will run from Friday 1 August until 7 September.

It provides an opportunity for the PCC to hear the views of adults and young people affected by crime as well as the service providers and professional who help victims and survivors cope and recover from their experience.

More than 30,000 victims have been supported in 2024-25 through the services commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner which cover a range of specialist areas including sexual abuse, hate crime and violence.

By understanding people’s views and experiences, the PCC hopes to identify where existing services are effective and accessible, as well as highlighting areas for improvement by identifying any unmet or emerging victim needs.

This insight will help shape future support services in the local area and ensure those at the greatest risk of harm receive the support hat works best for them.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “I know the impact of crime can be life-changing but with help and support you can recover from your experience and get your life back on track, so we need to get this right.

“I want to make sure we understand people’s experiences in order to make sure we are supporting victims in our area as best we can. To do this we need to listen and put the voice of the victim at the centre of plans and improvements.

“And so with this survey, we are reaching out to those who have experienced crime and found themselves navigating the criminal justice system. With this survey I want to find out how well existing referral processes and support services are working, and where improvements might need to be made in the future. We can then feed this into plans as we look to commission services for 2026. By getting this right we are able to reach victims of crime with the best support to meet their needs and also ensure we are evolving provisions to meet new challenges and demands.”

Supporting victims is a key priority in the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan for safer streets and stronger communities. The Plan details commitments around working with Northumbria Police and the victim services to improve awareness of support and ensure its easily accessible, whether a crime has been reported to the police or not.

The Northumbria Victims of Crime Survey is a crucial part of the PCC’s ongoing commitment to support victims of crime and ensure that the services available are effective, comprehensive, and responsive to the needs of local communities.

The surveys can be found below:

• Victims of Crime
• Children & Young People
• Service Providers

Anyone affected by crime who needs help can speak to the Northumbria Victim and Witness Service by calling 0800 011 3116.

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Statement from the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth

“On your behalf, I meet regularly with the Chief Constable to scrutinise and challenge Northumbria Police, especially when service falls short of what is expected by the public.

One such issue I raised recently was the destruction of documents relating to the miners’ strike, including Orgreave.

Understandably, this raised concerns particularly from affected communities – concerns which Northumbria Police needs to address.

At the time, the Chief Constable assured me an investigation to fully understand the actions taken which led to the destruction of the material would be launched. I also sought her reassurance that every step would be taken to identify if any further material exists, either paper or digital, which may assist the public inquiry to establish the full facts as to events at Orgreave in 1984 – her reassurance was given.

Along with the Home Secretary, I have now been informed that this investigation is underway, and Northumbria Police is committed to fully cooperate with any national inquiry into what happened at Orgreave.

I will review the findings of the internal investigation with keen interest.”

More than 250,000 students across the region have now taken part in Pol-Ed, an innovative educational programme designed to help young people better understand the law, build healthy relationships, and stay safe from harm.

Developed in partnership with teachers and policing professionals, and fully aligned with the national PSHE curriculum, Pol-Ed equips students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed, positive choices in their everyday lives.

Thanks to continued funding and support from the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit and partners, the programme is available free of charge, and has already been adopted by over 500 schools from across the force area, reflecting a growing demand for more preventative education.

In the last year, more than 4,500 Pol-Ed lessons and assemblies were delivered, covering a wide range of topics such as consent, healthy relationships, online safety, bullying, exploitation, and the consequences of criminal behaviour.

Pol-Ed is designed to encourage open and honest discussions in both primary and secondary school settings, helping to breakdown barriers, challenge misconceptions, and support young people to make safer decisions, while also helping practitioners identify those at risk earlier.

The initiative complements the wider awareness work delivered by the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit and Northumbria Police Education Teams, ensuring more young people not only recognise the risks but also feel empowered to seek help when they need it.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth said: “Communities have told me that they want to see more done to tackle serious and organised crime, which is why it’s a key priority in my police and crime plan. But to truly make a difference, we need to understand and address the underlying causes of violence, preventing crime before it even starts.

“That’s why reaching young people as early as possible is so important. We all want our children to grow up feeling safe, supported and confident in making the right choices, and Pol-Ed is one of the tools helping us achieve that.

“Having already reached over 250,000 students, this programme is making a real and lasting impact in our communities. It’s helping young people better understand the law, build healthy relationships, and recognise when something doesn’t feel right, empowering them to speak up and stay safe.

“But Pol-Ed isn’t just about delivering lessons and assemblies. It’s about having those honest conversations early on, and ensuring young people feel heard and supported. That’s how we build safer, stronger communities for everyone.

“My thanks to all the schools, teachers, and students who have already utilised these fantastic resources. Through ongoing support from the Northumbria Violence Reduction, Pol-Ed remains free to use, and I’d love to see every school in our region get involved.”

Sergeant Simon Reid, Problem Solving and Early Intervention at Northumbria Police, said: “Since May 2024, in partnership with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Violence Reduction Unit, we have been promoting Pol-Ed to all schools within our Force area. This includes encouraging our education partners to sign up and make use of the excellent resources available to them through the programme.

“Early intervention is a vital tool in our fight against crime and this tactic helps us to prevent people being harmed while also reducing the demands upon our public services. So far, 78 per cent of schools in our area have signed up to use Pol-Ed, with 4,513 lessons being delivered to a total of 251,080 young people.

“These are excellent figures and we are confident that the sessions are having a significant positive impact upon those taking part by giving them the knowledge they need to lead the best lives possible.”

Catherine Patrick, Assistant Head of Health Education at George Stephenson High School said: “We are absolutely delighted to be using the new Pol-Ed resources. They have quickly become an invaluable part of our PSHE curriculum. We particularly appreciate how the programme aligns with the PSHE Association guidelines while also offering its own age appropriate and well-structured content.”

“The inclusive activities, such as Think-Pair-Share and other interactive elements, really engage our students and encourage meaningful discussion. It’s been wonderful to see how these resources help build our students’ confidence, support their understanding of personal safety, and foster a positive and respectful school environment and within the wider community. The clarity, accessibility, and relevance of the topics make them an essential tool for modern PSHE delivery.”

Schools interested in signing up or learning more about Pol-Ed should contact Northumbria Police by email to school.liaison@northumbria.police.uk.

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GATESHEAD is among a list of town centres to get enhanced Northumbria Police and partner action – as the force rolls out Government’s national ‘Safer Streets Summer Initiative’ campaign.

Project Shield will play a key part in delivering this campaign designed to keep town centres across the force area safe this summer. Launched by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Susan Dungworth a year ago, Project Shield has had a successful first year and has helped see ASB plummet by 19 per cent in hotspot areas.

The project’s targeted police and partner patrols will be among a programme of activity running in Gateshead and other town centres across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear this summer.

This work supports the PCC’s local commitment to delivering safer streets and stronger communities, and joint efforts as part of this summer initiative will have a clear focus on anti-social behaviour (ASB) retail crime and street crime.

As part of this work, Project Shield areas can expect to see increased high visibility patrols, intelligence-led activity, engagement and targeted intervention work conducted by both police, local authority and transport partners.

Since its launch a year ago, Project Shield has delivered impressive improvements in its focus areas. It is hoped this summer’s continued efforts will help drive crime down further.

When joining patrols in Gateshead town centre, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth welcomed the Home Office’s campaign. She said:

“The primary goal of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative, with its focus on town centres is to drive down crime and disorder through increased visibility and robust action. It’s a real opportunity for Northumbria to build on the good work already being delivered, like Project Shield.

“During the summer months when it’s warmer and the nights are lighter, we know more people are out and about in our town centres and this always leads to higher levels of both daytime and night-time ASB and crime. And so, we have been coming together planning a range of activity, working closely with partners like Gateshead Council and the other local authorities to try and get ahead of any problems. We all hope it will help prevent or deter crime, whilst also improving overall feelings of safety.

“People’s concerns look different in different areas; that’s why a lot of our efforts are around problem solving – responding to the specific needs of our local communities. For our coastal towns it might be preventing large groups congregating at the seafront causing ASB, or for our retail centres it might be working with partners to focus on identifying prolific and repeat offenders.

“We really want to deal with the issues that cause the most concern for local people so we can take action and deliver safer streets and stronger communities. If people feel safer out and about in their town centres if helps them thrive and boosts economic growth forthe area too. ”

Ahead of the summer holidays, some local schools have been receiving tailored inputs and campaigns aimed at children and teenagers, focusing on reporting crime, personal safety and ASB. An example of this enhanced collaboration with educational providers has been dedicated neighbourhood officers at Gateshead College and across secondary schools talking to young people with a focus on ASB and knife crime. This includes signposting for those interested in summer activities and volunteering opportunities.

The town centre manager and ambassadors, employed by Gateshead Council also continue to improve visibility and engagement with residents and businesses, focusing on quality-of-life issues, early intervention and improving the environment.

Councillor Angela Douglas, Chair of the Gateshead Community Safety Board, said: “Project Shield has established a stronghold for a successful Safer Streets Summer Initiative campaign force wide, showcasing how partnership working and community engagement can have an incredible impact on the issues that matter most to residents.

“Here in Gateshead, we’re continuing to make strides in bringing together neighbourhood policing teams, local businesses and our wider communities to not only tackle ASB and serious crime, but to prevent it.

“By investing in tools like our new WalkSafe app, which can be used to quickly contact our town centre Ambassadors, report anti-social behaviour and identify safe spaces nearby, we’re making the most of the project funding to address safety concerns in our priority area.

“We’ll be continuing to develop this work over the summer, amplifying the Home Office initiative to delivering safer streets and stronger communities.”

Other key operations running as part of the Summer Streets Initiative include Operation Capio which tackles motorbike disorder, Operation Impact which is all-visibility days of action and Operation Coastwatch which focuses on pockets of ASB at the coast.

Superintendent Scott Cowie, Northumbria Police’s Serious Violence lead, said: “Tackling serious crime and anti-social behaviour remains one of our Force priorities and it is something we are absolutely committed to.

“We appreciate that the lighter evenings and summer months see an increase in ASB incidents but let us be clear that everyone should feel safe and secure when out and about in our city and town centre locations.“Alongside our partners, through Project Shield we use a range of tactics at our disposal to reduce crime by identifying offenders, seizing weapons and making arrests where necessary. We also carry out engagement activity to deter any of our young people who may be becoming involved in criminality.

“The public tell us that our extensive work in this area is having a tangible and positive impact on their lives and thanks to the £1.8million of renewed funding for 2025/26, we’re doing everything we can to continue the progress made.“My message to those in our communities is that if there are issues with serious violence and anti-social behaviour in your area then please don’t stay silent. Get in touch with us via our various channels so that we can build on our ever-growing intelligence picture and take the appropriate action.”

Newcastle’s Safe Haven Van has a fresh new look and will be back parked up on the Bigg Market as a go-to safety spot for anyone feeling vulnerable when out in the city at night.

The Community Safety and Engagement Van, widely known as the Safe Haven, has had a welcome refurbishment thanks to £20K in funding made by Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth. The investment is part of her commitment to delivering safer streets and stronger communities for the people of Northumbria.

A range of technical and aesthetic upgrades have been made to the van which is located at the heart of the Bigg Market. It is in situ from 10 pm to 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays, when footfall is at its highest.

The stand-out blue police vehicle is there to make sure help is at hand if you’ve lost your friends, need to charge your phone or wish to speak to an officer about any safety concerns you may have.

Provisions include a confidential space, medical supplies, information leaflets and phone charging facility and that safe space to talk to a Police Officer.

Police officers work closely with partners including NEAS, Newcastle City Council Street Marshals and Newcastle’s Street Pastors, who all come together to look offer help and support to revellers.

The recent investment also means that when the van is not in use on weekend nights, it will be put to good use as a police engagement resource, providing a base for officers to get out into local communities, ensuring both greater accessibility and visibility.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth said: “The Safe Haven has been a familiar sight to people out in the city for years and since becoming PCC I have heard countless positive stories from police, door staff, the council and even party-goers themselves – thankful for the van and colleagues working together to look after people. Although hugely valued, it was long due an upgrade and so we have made it happen.

“If anyone needs assistance on a night out in the City Centre, the Safe Haven is there, as a help point, and I want to make sure it stands out and people know about it.

She added: “A key priority in my Police and Crime Plan is ensuring we have an engaged and responsive police force and the van puts officers alongside partners right there in the heart of the night-time economy. It’s there to make people feel safe and allow people to easily find and speak to an officer if they need to. On one hand it’s there for crime prevention, and on the other it helps address vulnerability and to support victims. So, whether you need advice or just a sit down somewhere safe, the van is there to welcome you.”

Northumbria Police’s Neighbourhood Inspector Karen Madge said: “This latest funding to re-launch the Safe Haven Van is very welcome as we continue to work hand-in-hand with our partners to keep people safe.

“By night, it becomes a vital space for those who may need help—whether that’s reporting something confidentially to the police, charging phones, finding a safe spot to sit and wait, or reconnecting with family and friends if you’re lost. We can help get you home safely, or support you in seeking medical attention via the treatment centre located next to us.

“And now I’m pleased to say these improvements mean that we’ll be expanding our deployments beyond the night-time economy, in addition to our normal patrol activity.

“Two officers are dedicated to working on the vehicle and are there for advice, support, can be spoken to in confidence.  We are here to help.

“This is brilliant news and really supports our ability to engage with even more people across the city. Ultimately, we aim to be a safe space for everyone—and we’ll be there when they need us.”

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