STUDENT Support champions will be on hand in schools across Newcastle, as Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness funds a new Violence Reduction Unit initiative in a bid to drive down youth violence and knife crime across the region.

The new project launches following what has been a tragic few months for Tyneside, where the lives of two 14 year olds have been unnecessarily cut short as a result of youth violence.

Now, as part of major plans from the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, eight secondary schools will become the first to benefit from having student champions on hand to offer support on local youth violence issues.

As well as working with young people, including those believed to be at risk or involved in violent crime, the student champions will work closely with schools, police, council and community services, to prevent crime from happening.

The champions will be working with individuals and small groups, with the focus of the new roles being on building trusted relationships to encourage young people to seek support.

Young people will also take part in educational sessions covering the dangers of knife crime, how to keep themselves safe, and the consequences of violent crime.

The project aims to improve school attendance and behaviour, reduce suspensions and exclusions, strengthen community links and prevent serious youth violence.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said “Education is a key component in our fight against crime, that’s why it’s so important to engage young people at the earliest opportunity. The Violence Reduction Unit is committed to stopping the cycle of criminality and already has a dedicated team delivering vital awareness sessions to schools and community groups all year round, but this new project will take it a step further by giving young people access to a trusted adult in their own school, on a regular basis. The team will be able to identify young people in need of support, work with them to understand their needs and refer them to services and interventions to provide help for them and their families.”

She added, “By giving young people access to information, support and opportunities, we can improve their lives, enable them to have positive aspirations for the future and divert them from a life of crime.”

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

Working hard to keep our communities on the right track.

Dedicated officers have stepped up their activity to tackle antisocial behaviour and disorder across our town centres and transport hubs – with help from their partners.

On Friday, uniformed officers from Northumbria Police’s Neighbourhood Team and Operations Department stepped out with partners from Nexus, operator of the Tyne and Wear Metro, and Trinity Square to carry out additional patrols and ride the rails between Gateshead Interchange and Pelaw Metro Stations.

Taking place from 2pm to 10pm, the activity saw the team engage with shoppers in and around Trinity Square, as well as passengers and commuters – listening to concerns and feedback as well as monitoring the area for any antisocial and suspicious activity as well as escalating behaviour.

The activity, which was funded by the Violence Reduction Unit and co-ordinated with the help of Gateshead Council, will run for eight weeks and aims to help reduce crime and prevent disorder.

Praising the partnership approach to tackling disorder, and ensuring public spaces thrive, Neighbourhood Inspector Kevin Ashurst of Northumbria Police said: “Gateshead town centre is a bustling hub with many commuters and visitors passing through every day. It’s vital they are able to go about their business safely and in the knowledge that should they need us, we’re there.

“These patrols are an extension of the activity we regularly carry out, but they see us working in a more targeted and visible way, at those busy times when the public need us most – and with the added bonus of our partners accompanying us and sharing their expertise.

“While it’s only a small majority of people who cause disorder in our transport hubs and towns, we know that it can have a significant knock-on effect to those using the services and spending time in those affected places.

“This is why we will continue to have extra officers in and around Gateshead town centre throughout these coming winter months – so they can tackle disorder head-on listen to any concerns people might have.”

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “Thanks to the success over the summer, we know that this targeted action does work. However, stopping there was not an option. We need to continue engaging young people and identifying those causing serious disruption in our communities – we will not tolerate their harmful behaviour. That’s why the Violence Reduction Unit have invested further in this crucial work. We need to understand the underlying causes and work with these individuals to deter them from crime – and for those who do not engage in our interventions, there are likely to be consequences.” 

She added: “No-one should ever become a victim of crime but sadly we know that it does happen – that’s why the more we work together and invest in prevention, the stronger our position will be in the fight against crime.”

Metro Operations Director, John Alexander, said: “We continue to work in co-operation with the police and other stakeholders to deal with anti-social behaviour when it occurs on Metro.

“These extra patrols will be of great reassurance to the law-abiding majority of people who pay for their travel and don’t want to put up with a minority who cause trouble.

“The extra policing and other measures we have put in place has helped to halve the levels of anti-social behaviour on Metro since the spring.

“Not only does Nexus invest in policing on Metro, we are also putting £3m into a security team to patrol the network on a permanent basis. We have invested £4m in improved CCTV, and all of our frontline staff wear body cameras.

“Anyone who causes trouble on Metro is likely to get caught and face prosecution, fines, and even a possible ban from using the system.”

To report suspicious behaviour, please use the Tell us Something page on the Northumbria Police website.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness has announced £220,000 worth of interventions will be rolled out by her Violence Reduction Unit as part of plans to fight and prevent crime this winter.

As part of determined efforts to prevent serious violence in the North-East, the Violence Reduction Unit has drawn up a programme of work which includes targeted interventions and activities to tackle the root causes of crime.

Plans will focus on working with those causing the most disruption in communities and will aim to divert them away from crime with positive opportunities.

The Violence Reduction Unit successfully ramped up activity over the summer in a bid to stop spikes in violence and keep people safe. This involved more patrols and more youth workers engaging with young people over the Jubilee weekend and at iconic events such as the famous Newcastle Hoppings.

Although serious violence has been on the rise this year, levels dropped by 12.2% in August thanks to targeted interventions, more youth workers and diversionary activities for young people, reinforcing the Violence Reduction Unit’s approach of working closely with partners such as Police, local councils and youth organisations, to prevent crime from happening.

The impact of this work has led to identifying perpetrators as well as young people at risk of becoming involved in crime and preventing anti-social behaviour to help communities feel safer.

Chairing the Violence Reduction Unit’s quarterly strategic board meeting this month, PCC Kim McGuinness welcomed the plans outlined to mitigate a rise in serious violence over the winter months. At the board, the following preventative measures were agreed:

• Targeted programmes in place to identify and work with individuals causing the most significant harm in Newcastle and Gateshead.
• A team to be operational in Newcastle, engaging with young people, as well as having a specific focus on key events throughout the winter months.
• Gateshead will continue to have police patrols in identified areas as well as targeted activities to engage young people around key dates. A community safety team will also focus on adult-related ASB and alcohol-related domestic abuse.
• In North Tyneside, young people will be engaged in activities that divert them from crime as well as signposting support. Plain-clothes police operations will also take place to address peer group violence and the carrying of knives.
• Patrols, outreach work and activities to be delivered in hotspot areas by a dedicated team in South Tyneside.
• A team will be deployed in identified areas of Northumberland, to engage with young people, as well as in developing projects to improve environments.
• Sunderland will expand on the work delivered in the summer, with further activity to take place as part of its city-wide operational plans for the darker nights.

All staff involved in delivering this crucial work are required to undertake the Violence Reduction Unit’s knife crime awareness training, aimed at giving professionals a better understanding of the factors that can increase a person’s vulnerability to becoming both a perpetrator and a victim of knife crime.

The session covers why young people might carry a knife, the consequences of doing so and the law as well as signposting additional information and support.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “There has been lots of targeted work taking place over the summer with positive results but we can’t stop there. There is always so much more that could be done, more kids to engage with, more lives to change.

“With the darker nights arriving, lots of events set to take place and more people planning nights out, it makes it all the more important for the Violence Reduction Unit to work with those causing the most disruption in our communities and deter them from crime at the earliest opportunity. Our approach aims to educate young people with a focus on early intervention; however, we will not tolerate violence in our communities and for those who do not engage in our interventions, there are likely to be consequences.”

She added: “No-one should ever become a victim of crime but sadly we know that it does happen. So, whether you live or work in this fantastic region or are simply visiting to experience all it has to offer over the winter period, I want you to feel safe when doing so. The more we can invest in prevention, the stronger our position will be in the fight against crime.”

For more information about the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, visit the website.

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The Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit is delighted to announce that it has awarded over £10,000 to directly benefit 1,980 young people, through a fund aimed at preventing crime and serious violence.

The Local Youth Fund gives young people an alternative to crime by providing the chance to bid for activities or projects that matter to them and make a difference to the communities they live in.

By developing their own projects, young people are gaining experience, learning new skills and building their confidence, all of which have a positive influence on their future life choices.

Young people continue to shape this fund, with a panel responsible for reviewing applications and providing recommendations for funding. In the latest round of the Local Youth Fund, the panel asked the Violence Reduction Unit to fund 20 of the 24 submissions from young people in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear.

The successful applicants have come up with a range of projects, including community sessions, a variety of sports activities, training programmes for personal development, improving local areas and learning new skills with a focus on health and well-being.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “More than 2,000 young people have already benefited from previous rounds of this fund, so I’m delighted to see such enthusiasm and interest from young people in this latest round. The young people have come up with some fantastic ideas and I can’t wait to see some of their projects in person over the next couple of months”.

She added “The Violence Reduction Unit recognise the importance of giving young people access to opportunities and have put them right at the heart of this unique fund. I can’t stress enough how important it is that we continue to engage our young people now to ensure they have the right support to make positive decisions for the future.”

The organisations supporting the successful applicants include:

• 1151 Wallsend Squadron Air Training Corps
• 1st Ponteland Boys Brigade & Girls
• African Community Advice North East
• Barmoor Hub
• Fearless Fitness CIC
• Fenham Association of Residents
• Gateshead Football Club Community Foundation
• Haltwhistle Young and Sweet
• Hat-Trick
• Humankind
• Inspire Youth Tyne and Wear
• Newcastle Eagles Community Foundation
• Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Adolescent Service, Northumberland Youth Service
• Ocean Road Community Association
• The Chev Gateshead Ltd
• YMCA North Tyneside

For more information on the Local Youth Fund, please contact the Violence Reduction Unit by email VRU@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk.

The Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit has today announced a third round of its Local Youth Fund, providing an exciting opportunity for young people in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear to voice what matters to them.

With an £18,000 fund available, young people, with the support of a registered youth or community organisation, can bid for projects or activities up to £500, that have a benefit to them and the communities they live in.

Thanks to previous rounds of this unique fund, £18,000 has already made a difference to more than 2,000 young people through projects and activities they developed themselves, including awareness videos, clubs and forums, personal hygiene projects, re-engaging with education and training, sports activities, environmental projects and many more.

This fund continues to be shaped by young people and through working with partners, North East Youth Alliance, the Violence Reduction Unit will have the support of a youth panel, responsible for reviewing applications and providing their recommendations for funding.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “The Violence Reduction Unit have already held two successful rounds of their Local Youth Fund, where I asked for young people to tell us what matters to them, and they did just that. And now, with another £18,000 fund available, I want young people to tell us how we spend this money – what projects, activities or support would you like to see?”

She added: “It is vitally important that we engage our regions young people now to ensure they have the right support and access to opportunities so they can make positive decisions for the future, therefore reducing their chances of becoming involved in crime. That’s why providing young people with the opportunity to develop their own project or activity, results in fantastic benefits such as increased confidence and learning new skills, which they can use in daily life. So, if you, or someone you know has a great idea, then please do apply”.

On behalf of the North East Youth Alliance, NE Youth Chief Executive Jon Niblo said: “We are delighted to working collaboratively with the Violence Reduction Unit to ensure that Young People are involved in this exciting fund. The fund enables Young People to develop their own local projects that make a real difference in their communities.”

For more information on the Local Youth Fund, please visit the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit website.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness’s Violence Reduction Unit has put plans in place to ramp up activity over the summer in a bid to stop spikes in violence and keep people safe.

With more people heading out to enjoy the warmer weather and the Violence Reduction Unit having already successfully piloted more activity over the Jubilee weekend and at iconic events such as The Hopping’s, it has made summer plans a key focus in the weeks ahead.

The Violence Reduction Unit aims to get ahead of the curve this year after launching its Summer Violence Fund, as part of its response to reducing crime.

Through working closely with the Community Safety Partnerships in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear to develop projects to reduce serious violence over the summer period, it has led the Violence Reduction Unit to invest over £100,000 in local communities to provide:

• Newcastle with additional staff to engage the public and young people in the City Centre as well as the parks and green spaces.
• Northumberland with a team of officers and youth workers deployed in identified areas to disrupt a rise in crime.
• Gateshead with a team to engage young people over the summer holidays to prevent increases in anti-social behaviour.
• North Tyneside with funding to enable staff to further engage with young people and provide diversionary activities.
• South Tyneside with additional resource to identify, engage and support young people in sports activities and educational sessions.
• Sunderland with youth outreach work taking place in and around the City Centre, supported by additional wardens and officers.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “Violence is unacceptable at any time of the year, and now that summer has arrived, we all want to enjoy everything our region has to offer – especially now we are seeing some normality back in our lives. But, it’s so important to me that everyone feels safe and that support is readily available to those who need it. That’s why my Violence Reduction Unit have provided additional resource throughout the summer, to engage with individuals at the earliest opportunity and prevent crime before it starts.

Assistant Chief Constable David Felton said: “As a Force, we are committed to cutting serious violence and tackling the underlying causes of repeat offending.

“Our collective approach to reducing serious violence is succeeding, as supported by national figures which show hospital admissions fell by eight per cent and 14 per cent year-on-year in 2019-20 and 2020-21 respectively.

“The number of offences involving firearms have also significantly reduced.

“This shows that the important work we are doing with partners to protect our communities and prevent these types of incident from happening in the first place is making a difference.

“We will continue to look to build on the excellent work already under way, including to help educate people about the dangers of being involved in such activity and help them make better choices.

“By working together we can continue to drive down crime and help ensure our region remains a safe place to live, work and visit.”

Now in its fourth year, the Violence Reduction Unit will continue its work to interrupt violence by using data and local intelligence, addressing offending behaviours, educating young people and providing diversionary activities to prevent crime by improving lives.

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

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