PRESS RELEASE

MORE than £160,000 in funding has been granted to a range of projects to improve lives in the North East thanks to Round 5 of Police Commissioner, Kim McGuinness’ Operation Payback fund.

The fund is made up of money that has been seized through successful police action across the region and is now being shared among a range of community-focused projects to help fund everything from football pitches to new security systems.

On the anniversary of the death of promising young footballer Tomasz Oleszak, who was tragically killed in a knife attack, his former club, Gateshead Cleveland Hall, have secured £3,600 to begin the development of a new 4G football pitch in his memory.

Other groups who have received funding to support new facilities, repair CCTV, roll out youth diversionary activities or kick-start community projects include: Ashington Rugby Cricket Club, High Spen Social Action, Sunderland’s Halo Project, and Holding Hands North East.

This Summer, Northumbria Police revealed that jail terms totalling more than 150 years have been handed down to criminals involved in serious and organised crime in the region in just six months. Drugs, cash, and Proceeds of Crime confiscation orders with a value of almost £1.4 million had also been obtained during this time.

It’s money from successful police action fighting crime like this that is now being reinvested into grass root causes through Operation Payback.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said:

“There’s no better use for cash seized from crime than channelling it right back into our communities – particularly areas that need it most or where we are wanting to clampdown on things like anti-social behaviour. It’s about presenting kids with the chance to do things they want to do, keeping them entertained or even making sure they are fed and feel supported in life.

“There are such worthwhile projects on the list – the new football pitch in memory of Tomasz being one of them club, this community, has been incredible in how it has come together in the aftermath of Tomasz’s death. When I was at the memorial football match for Tomasz, as well as the outpouring of grief, there was such a warm, supportive atmosphere among everyone there – so many people care and want to make a difference.

“We owe it to him, to put all our effort into stopping kids carrying knives, stopping this devastation happening again. By investing in communities and creating opportunities for local kids I really hope we can have a positive impact on young lives in the area.”

Kim added:

“There are a lot of cash strapped organisations out there and Operation Payback is stripping cash out of the hands of criminals and handing it over to so many grass root cases that matter. It’s thanks to some great police work that I am in the position to do this.

“This has been Round 5 of the fund, which since its launch has given more than £1million pounds back to local communities. This time, we really have been inundated with applications from worthwhile causes – from holiday activities for families struggling, to support work with kids already getting caught up in the criminal justice system. I only wish we could fund them all. To me it’s a clear indicator of how hard so many of our region’s youth projects and community groups are finding things at the moment. Government cuts are being made left, right and centre and yet people’s outgoings are getting higher and higher. There is a real fight for funding that should be more readily available. I’m glad Operation Payback can help some.”

Andrew Watling, Club Leader at Gateshead Cleveland Hall CA, said: “We are so grateful for the support of the PCC’s office to help provide a base for the beginning of our project.

“Losing Tomasz remains the most painful blow imaginable for a community club such as ours. He was a shining light and the nature of his death struck all of us extremely hard.

“There is no place for the carrying of knives and we can’t think of any better way to celebrate his life and his legacy than by building a new facility in his memory.

“We aim for the new pitch to be a safe space for children and young people in Gateshead to enjoy sport. It will also be a monument to his time with us and a reminder for decades to come to the local community of the futility of knife crime.”

A full list of beneficiaries throughout the Northumbria Police force area can be found HERE.

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PUBLIC transport users have been noticing a greater presence of uniformed officers across stations and stops throughout the North East, as part of Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness’ drive to cut down anti-social behaviour experienced by passengers.

To build further on her Safer Transport Northumbria project, Kim McGuinness has invested an extra £1million in ASB funding to cover high-visibility patrols and targeted intervention work, with a particular focus on the region’s transport networks.

In recent months, a programme of work to fight crime and stamp out nuisance behaviour has seen Northumbria Police officers team up with transport providers Stagecoach and Nexus to provide targeted patrols.

Other local communities that have also recently benefiting from targeted funding for a greater uniform presence on the streets include West Denton, Cramlington, Biddick Hall and Whiteleas.

ASB crackdown operations focus on increased policing presence in neighbourhoods, taking action against ASB offenders and working with local councils to tidy up communities.

The Police Commissioner has previously spoken out on how cuts to policing, public transport and councils over the last 13 years have had consequences, with rising ASB being one of them. She is now using ASB funding to help passengers feel safer when travelling, which she believes is an important step in helping the region to thrive.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “We have been rolling out more patrols and officers have been delivering focused operations in busy periods and at key interchanges and stations. It’s getting noticed too. Kids are noticing there are more officers; they’re not hanging around the same in some of their usual sports as a direct consequence. What we are doing is working.”

Kim continued: “This all helps to address people’s concerns and improve overall feelings of safety. It’s so important we get our region’s transport right and fighting and preventing crime is a key part of it.

“ASB can make victims’ lives a nightmare, causing stress, worry and despair. We know it can often be a precursor to serious crimes such as knife crime and gang activity, so this heavier policing presence must be backed up with prevention work too and we are working with youth providers to get on top of this side of things too.

“We all want to love where we live, communities that are free of crime and disorder, and I’m determined to deliver this across the force area.”

A recent Safer Communities Survey by Northumbria Police found 95 per cent of respondents feel safe in their neighbourhood, however, young people causing nuisance in public places continues to be cited as one of the top public priorities.

Chief Superintendent Barrie Joisce, of Northumbria Police, said: “We recognise that the anti-social behaviour of a minority can have a significant and detrimental impact on the communities we serve.

“Tackling anti-social behaviour is a priority for the Force and every single day our officers carry out high-visibility patrols to proactively target hotspot areas and get ahead of crime trends.

“As ever, I’d like to thank our residents, commuters and businesses for their ongoing support and I hope this investment offers further reassurance that we have listened to their concerns – and are taking robust action to address them.

“Through effective partnership working, we can continue to make people feel safe, reduce pockets of disorder and ensure anyone involved in anti-social behaviour is dealt with swiftly and effectively.”

Interim Managing Director at Nexus, Cathy Massarella, said: “Extra policing on local public transport networks is a really welcome step and builds on the many new measures we’ve already put in place.

“Customers want to see more done about anti-social behaviour and can be assured that action is being taken to provide a greater uniformed presence on board buses, Metros and at stations. Safety and security is our top priority.

“Nexus invest £1m a year on Metro police every year, and we have spent a further £2m on dedicated security teams to patrol the network at night. Over the summer we launched a new text alert system so that customers can report issues more effectively to us. By texting ‘REPORTIT’ to us on 66777 you get through to the Metro customer service desk straight away.

“We have made great progress, and efforts will continue to reduce rates of anti-social behaviour across our communities, and the public transport networks that serve them.”

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LOVED ones of Sunderland knife crime victim Connor Brown have revealed Wearside will be welcoming the return of the knife angel to the region as part of continued efforts to prevent youth violence.

The Connor Brown Trust has been working closely with Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness and Sunderland City Council to bring the powerful sculpture to the city – which has now been confirmed to arrive in June 2024.

Standing at 27ft tall and constructed with over 100,000 surrendered blades, it’s set to be installed at Keel Square, where it will bring people together and encourage open conversations around the dangers of carrying bladed weapons, and the potential consequences.

It is not the first time the knife angel has visited the region. In February 2020, the emotive figure stood tall on Gateshead’s quayside at Performance Square, outside the Sage. That time another local anti-knife crime charity, Samantha’s Legacy, campaigned to get the angel to the North East and was supported by Kim McGuinness.

During the knife angel’s last visit thousands of young people visited the statue and many received a hard-hitting knife crime workshop delivered by the charity to highlight just how devastating the impacts carrying a knife can have on individuals, families, and entire communities.

Similarly, this year the Connor Brown Trust will be running various workshops – taking their important story of how Connor was tragically killed to classrooms and youth groups throughout the region.

These sessions will centre on warning young people of the dangers as well as crucially making sure they know what to do and where to go if they need help or advice if they or someone they know is carrying a knife.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “Anyone who has already seen the knife angel knows how powerful it is – so poignant and hard-hitting. It sends shivers – it really makes you think – and that’s the idea.

“For me it perfectly symbolises the social change that we’re trying to push for across the region. It’s all about encouraging the important conversations, we’re delivering the powerful sessions and we’re reaching young people everywhere we can – from billboards and bus stops to Snapchat and Tik Tok – the message is everywhere.

“Too many lives have been lost due to the needless carrying of blades and so we are determined with this, we have to be. We are using every tool and method we can to get the message through, to change ways and ultimately save lives.”

The Connor Brown Trust was set up following the tragic death of 18-year-old Connor Brown whose parents want to do all they can to help stop knife crime and prevent others from going through the life-changing heartbreak they have. Mum Tanya, who has been the driving force behind getting the angel to Sunderland, said:

“I am thrilled that the Knife Angel is coming to Sunderland. It is an amazing piece of art in itself and the facts around the structure is something that resonates with us as a family. We know how much of an impact it had when it was in our region in 2020 and so many visited the angel and had the opportunity to be part of the educational workshops. I am positive the Knife Angel will have just as much of an impact on many more young people and attract many visitors. We have plans to run an extensive educational programme with other events and activities for the month the Angel is here in our city.”

Councillor Graeme Miller, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “I’m really pleased that the Knife Angel is visiting our city for the first time. I hope it has an incredibly powerful impact on everyone who sees it during its visit to Sunderland.

“No mother should ever have to go through what Tanya went through when she lost Connor, and my heart goes out to her and to every other parent who has lost a child to knife crime.

“If the Knife Angel coming to Sunderland makes even one young person think twice about carrying a knife or sparks a conversation among a group of young people about the devastating consequences of knife crime, then its visit will have been well worthwhile.”

Kim McGuinness established the region’s first Violence Reduction Unit in 2019, which works with a range of partners including Northumbria Police, to combat the devastation caused by knife crime.

Artist Alfie Bradley created the knife angel out of blades handed in during amnesties held by police forces across the country.

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As young people across the region head back to school, they will now understand the heart-breaking reality of carrying a knife as Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness’s Violence Reduction Unit ramps up its education programme in a bid to tackle knife crime.

Through providing interactive sessions to thousands of children, the unit’s dedicated Education Team will focus on addressing why young people might carry a knife, the law and consequences around knife crime, dispelling any myths and looking at the advice and support available.

This comes as the Violence Reduction Unit launched its hard-hitting Knives Impact Everyone campaign last month, aimed at making young people think before picking up a knife by understanding the impact their actions can have.

The ramped up violence reduction learning programme is the latest addition in this powerful campaign that already includes emotionally charged graphics on the region’s buses, metro stations, billboards and kiosks, as well as online.

Already featuring in the campaign, the following message will now be a key factor in the education sessions delivered to young people – ‘Knife crime cuts deep. Whether you’re carrying or you’re a victim, the consequences impact everyone; family, friends, emergency services and communities’.

The Education Team have already worked with a staggering 71,555 young people since the unit’s inception in 2019, and this renewed focus will see them work with thousands more.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “I don’t want to see another family go through the heartbreak of losing a loved one to this horrific crime. That’s why this early intervention is key to ensuring young people understand that their actions can have a devastating impact on so many.”

“Education is such a valuable tool, which is my Violence Reduction Unit has a dedicated education team giving young people the chance to take part in open and honest discussions about the realities and consequences of knife crime.”

“We must continue to get the right messages to young people so that we can support them in making better decisions for their future.”

“I know the education team are eager to get back into schools to deliver our vital knife crime awareness sessions, and I’d like to thank every young person who takes part.”

Training is also available to those who work with young people to help them have those early conversations and provide the right support by understanding issues relating to knife crime that could increase a person’s vulnerability.

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

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Hundreds of young people have been targeted by on-the-ground patrols as result of the Newcastle Task Force set up to prevent spikes in summer violence. 

The task force, funded through Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness’ Violence Reduction Unit and Newcastle City Council, is making a significant impact in hotspot and high footfall areas of Newcastle this summer. 

The task force provides a visible presence with staff out meeting hundreds of young people in the city centre, parks and other green spaces, acting as a deterrent to incidents. 

Earlier this month, the Commissioner’s Violence Reduction Unit launched Knives Impact Everyone, an awareness campaign aimed at educating young people on the impact their actions can have if they were to carry or use a knife.  

As part of this, the task force in Newcastle is working to engage young people in order to reduce the number of those found to be in possession of a knife or weapon, as well as reducing the amount of young people becoming involved in anti-social and violent offences.  

Operating when the city is at its busiest for football matches, music concerts, popular nights out and iconic events such as the Hopping’s funfair, the task force has brought in a number of initiatives including:  

• Taking a targeted approach in order to utilise resources appropriately to get the best results in reducing violent crime.    
• Community Safety Teams deployed in hotspot and high footfall areas on weeknights and weekends to act as a deterrence and increase feelings of safety.  
• Utilising CCTV to deploy teams in areas where issues may be arising.  
• Youth Outreach Workers and other key partners working throughout the city now take part in fortnightly meeting to ensure a joined up approach to tackling violent crime.
• Staff have taken part in a programme of training including awareness around knife crime, personal safety, signs of intoxication and drug use, in order to help them spot the early signs and provide the best support.  

To identify and deter those causing the most disruption, the task force brings together a range of services and organisations, including the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, Newcastle City Council, Northumbria Police, the Youth Justice Service, Your Homes Newcastle and specialist youth services.  

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “We need to keep getting ahead of the issue and quickly resolving it and that includes driving down violence over the summer and winter periods when the cities are at their busiest.” 

“I am delighted that the task force is making fantastic headway in engaging with our regions young people, helping to identify those causing disruption and deterring them from crime. It is a vital tool in our programme of activity to prevent serious violence, which is why the task force sits alongside the wider work of the Violence Reduction Unit and its partners.” 

“We must continue educating young people through our awareness sessions and important campaigns including Knives Impact Everyone, keep providing positive opportunities through dedicated youth work and offering the right support where needed. All of this early intervention is key to ensuring our young people make good decisions for their future.” 

“We all want to feel safe when attending popular events and enjoying everything else our cities have to offer – that’s why I want to reinforce my message that we will never tolerate violence.” 

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

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HEART-BREAKING conversations and undelivered messages feature in a series of short videos as part of a new campaign determined to prevent knife crime in the North East.

Last week, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness and the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit launched their hard-hitting campaign, Knives Impact Everyone. The campaign wants to make young people think before picking up a knife and understand the consequences of their actions.

The videos have been made available on online through a wide range of channels popular with young people, including Snapchat and YouTube. They highlight the devastating impact that knife crime has on so many people, such as family, friends, emergency services and communities.

Featuring difficult conversations between young people when an incident has taken place, an emergency worker reaching out to their partner for support after trying to save a life, a friend comforting a grieving parent and finally, the most heart breaking of them all, a loved one sending a message that will never be delivered, “I miss you so much”.

These powerful videos are the latest release in the Knives Impact Everyone campaign, which already has emotionally charged graphics covering the region’s buses, metro stations, billboards and kiosks, as well as online.

Speaking about the Knives Impact Everyone campaign, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “Most of us think of knife crime as only having an impact on those we consider to be involved, the victim and the perpetrator – but what our campaign sets out is that there are so many more people impacted by this horrific crime. Family, friends, emergency services and local communities – we all feel it.”

“The videos released today show the true devastation and heartache that knife crime brings, from an emergency worker who tried to save a life, to a family member whose message will never be delivered to their loved one.”

“Our Knives Impact Everyone campaign helps us to continue getting important information to young people on the dangers, consequences and impact of carrying and using knives. However, there is so much more that we are doing to tackle knife crime, which the campaign now sits alongside.”

“We need to continue with the youth work, the interventions, the family support and the education sessions, delivered by the Violence Reduction Unit and its partners – all of this together is how we prevent knife crime and any more lives being lost.”

You can find out more about the work of the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit and the campaign to reduce knife crime here: www.KnivesImpactEveryone.co.uk

Knives Impact Everyone Videos

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