Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness has laid out determined plans to tackle serious violence in the North East.

Stopping young people carrying knives and ruining lives has been named a top priority by the Commissioner who wants to build on promising interventions that are being rolled out across the region.

She says her Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, Northumbria Police and incredible organisations like Samantha’s Legacy and the Connor Brown Trust are working hard to deliver life-changing interventions and powerful education work – but more needs to be done.

As well as delivering sessions in schools and youth clubs, other promising approaches to reach those on the cusp of crime and encouraging them to make positive choices are happening across the region and the PCC has tasked her Violence Reduction Unit with developing and expanding this work as top priority.

A&E navigators. A&E offers a key touch point for specialists to engage with vulnerable young people who present with injuries and issues which may be a symptom of involvement in serious violence and wider organised crime and vulnerability. The team are therefore looking to explore working closely with health professionals to implement ‘navigators’ into hospitals. The navigators will be there to care, guide and provide practical support in a non-judgemental way to people who may be experiencing trauma and serious adversity.

Student support champions. Champions are now on hand in targeted schools across Newcastle. The champions work to build trusted relationships with young people so they have someone to confide in and get support. A regular presence in the schools, part of the job is identifying young people in need of support in the first place so they can refer them to services and interventions to help them and their families. Kim is keen to expand the scheme further.

New team clamping down on known offenders. A new team has recently been deployed in Sunderland City Centre, focussed on clamping down on known offenders. The team works with identified individuals known for being involved in violence. The message to them is clear – engage with the mentors, and programmes that are being offered or there will be significant consequences.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “Every time we lose a young life to violence we are reminded of just how important the prevention work we are doing is. My Violence Reduction Unit is tasked with bringing everyone together and saying we will not accept violence in our region and this is how we are going to fight it.

“Nothing I can say will bring back the lives tragically lost in recent months but I can say there is a lot of work happening and we desperately want to be scaling it up and reaching more and more impressionable young kids. You see, it’s not just about officers on the streets and catching those carrying knives. I want to reach kids before that – I want to get in there before a weapon reaches their hands.”

Asked whether she thinks the problem is getting worse, the Commissioner said:
“Yes, I do think it feels like things have got worse over the last decade or so. That’s everywhere – up and down the country – and we are clearly not immune to it up here. That’s why we need to throw everything we have at this – more of the mentoring, the youth diversion schemes, the early interventions. And everyone: parents, teachers, friends we all need to be the having conversations, raising awareness, creating positive opportunities.”

She added: “Crucially let’s not forget the bigger picture either. We have to look at the causes. The links between poverty, deprivation and serious violence are clear. In 80% of our harm hotspot areas in Northumbria, 1 in 10 people suffer from income deprivation. We fight poverty, we fight crime”.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner has warned the North East needs to use every resource it can get its hands on to reinvest in community services and youth provision to help rescue future generations out of hardship.

 Speaking at the Convention of the North in Manchester, she told delegates there is a real need for ‘Sure Start Mark 2’.

Her comments follow saddening statistics out this week from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Child of the North, which warned North East child poverty is now the highest since 2001.

In her speech, made in front of business, political and civic leaders discussing the opportunities and challenges facing the North, she outlined how investing in people regardless of their background leads to happier, safer neighbourhoods and a thriving cultural scene.

Established in 1999, Sure Start Children’s Centres brought together health, parenting support, childcare and employment services. Widespread evidence suggests they saved the NHS millions of pounds in terms of improving the lives of those trapped in poverty, as well as helping families to give their children the best possible start in life.

Kim said: “In the North East, where I am Police Commissioner, the strategic policing plan I put in place is called Fighting Poverty, Fighting Crime, and part of what I am doing is bringing back Sure Starts centres by stealth. I’m using money recovered from criminals to reinvest in community services and youth provisions and my Violence Reduction Unit to backing local community hubs that bring people together, helping them through times and keep kids out of trouble.

“Let’s face it, Sure Start Centres should never have been closed down – they brought the North East and its people huge benefits yet since 2010 we’ve seen them ripped from the heart of some of our most deprived communities. And now, over a decade later, there’s no money directly available to fund ongoing interventions despite the benefits they bring elsewhere in the system.

“So, in the North East we’re finding new ways to fund centres that create real opportunity- whether that’s supporting parents to keep kids on the right track or investing in the trusted cultural role models who show there is a better way.

“We have some amazing charity-led centres that are desperately trying to fill the void and help local people to thrive like the Howdon Community Hub in North Tyneside or Pallion Action Group in Sunderland. There are brilliant people doing brilliant things. Not everyone is lucky enough to have support like this on their doorstep though. So, we all must keep doing all we can. If we get the basics right for young people we can prevent criminality later in life and we can ensure that it’s not just the kids going to good schools who go on to become the northern starts of sport, business or culture in the future.”

Northumbria Police has become the first force in the country to be awarded Safer Streets funding specifically to fight rural crime, and is launching a new Northumbria Partnership Against Rural Crime to kick-start plans.

More than £250,000 in funding secured by Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness’s office has meant plans to tackle rural crime and make people feel safer across the region are now underway.

A new package of rural policing plans that involve encouraging reporting, working with others to prevent crime and targeted activity to pursue offenders will be rolled out. Plans also include new technologies covering number plate recognition and thermal imaging as well as research and practical crime prevention tools.

The enhance crime prevention activity will be delivered with the support of Northumberland Council, Farmwatch, Northumberland Fire and Rescue, Northumberland National Park and Mountain Rescue Team, and Forestry England.

The plans mean 2023 is off to a promising start for Northumbria Police’s Rural Policing Team and it’s hoped the new police activity will build on what was a successful year for the team that has recovered more than £1million of stolen farming vehicles and equipment since its launch in 2020.

Addressing the force’s commitment to the serious impact crime can have on farmers and their families as well as others who live in our more isolated communities, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “Wherever I go in the country Northumbria Police is often cited for best practice and is praised for leading the way with its work to tackle rural crime. The fact that we were the only force area to apply for this funding specifically with our rural communities in mind shows just how important these communities are to us.

“We may be known for rolling out some of the best rural policing operations in the country but there is always more that officers want to be doing to clampdown on criminal activity and protect our more isolated neighbourhoods.

“It’s vital that officers have the tools to do the job and there are some big plans in the pipeline to improve the technology around data gathering and intelligence sharing with other members of our countryside communities who work hard alongside our policing teams to keep the area safe and fight crime.

“Really stepping up efforts in our area is very much a joint effort – I don’t know of any other rural partnerships that are supported by such significant funding. There really is such a strong commitment to make sure rural policing is certainly not something that’s overlooked and I hope it will make people feel and be safer in the Northumberland area.”

Inspector Garry Neill, of Northumbria Police’s Rural Policing Team, said: “Tackling rural crime is a real priority for the Force and this funding can help us build on the significant work already under way.

“The team are passionate about protecting our most remote communities and we have seen some significant results over the last year – with a number of offenders brought to justice and huge amounts of stolen equipment recovered.

“We run dedicated operations throughout the year to hit criminals hard and make our rural communities feel safe. This funding will help us continue that – using new innovative tactics – and make a real difference in our fight against rural crime.

“I would like to thank everyone who continues to play their part, especially our Rural Crime Volunteers whose contribution is invaluable. By working together, we can continue to protect our rural communities and bring justice against offenders.”

ENDS

PRESS RELEASE

WITH the cost-of-living crisis escalating and crime continuing to evolve, Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness is keen to hear the views of local people to help refresh her plans to keep fighting and preventing crime across the North East.

The PCC’s Police and Crime plan is based on people’s views, feelings and experiences of crime across Northumberland Tyne and Wear, which they can share through the survey HERE.

Last year’s plan focused on fighting poverty and fighting crime, as the Commissioner believes the two social injustices go hand and in hand. Her approach and priorities were met with overwhelming support across the region.

In fact, this was the first plan in the country to recognise that we will never beat crime with just a strong police force and more boots on the ground. From jobs to youth services to better transport, Kim strongly believes there are so many other issues we need to look at in order to keep people out of criminality and improve lives.

With rising inflation and what the PCC describes as ‘insufficient’ Government funding for the region, Northumbria Police is facing cuts of more than £11million in the next year, meaning difficult decisions lie ahead.

This, she said, makes it more important than ever that the force has the right priorities in place: “From families to policing; everywhere is feeling the pinch right now and our region always seems to fair the worst. Well, I am passionate about our region I want to make sure it’s a safe one and that it’s a place where people thrive.

“So with budgets so tight, we need to really carefully consider our policing priorities and make sure they are right and that we are listening to real people and real concerns. We can then deliver the improvements people want to see.

“We all want to see more officers on the streets, fighting crime and responding to emergencies and we are making this happen as best we can with the finances and resources we’ve got. From knife crime to antisocial behaviour to domestic abuse, I want to hear your concerns to help put plans into action. The more people’s insight we get through this survey, the better.

She continued: “Fighting crime is and still will be the number one priority for myself and Northumbria Police but we have to get ahead of it and prevent crime from happening in the first place. It’s about the future of our region. Too many of our children grow up in poverty, too many kids don’t get the support they need as they’re growing up, and too often that means they store up problems that play out in adult life and in some cases, lead to crime. We have to tackle the root causes to beat this.

“If we reduce poverty we reduce crime and this benefits everyone, regardless of your income or your postcode. Not to mention the ever-growing demands and pressures on our hard-working police force. We have to get this right and I want your help. Together, we can improve lives for the people of the North East.”

ENDS

With more than 2000 champions already active in the region, Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness is now calling for more businesses to join the fight against Domestic Abuse.

Supporting those affected by domestic abuse can often start in the workplace, and with that in mind, Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness wants more businesses to take part in free training delivered by the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit and to join its dedicated network of champions.

Over the last few years, the workplace has changed significantly with more people working from home, but for those affected by domestic abuse, it provides a lack of escape from the harm they face. That’s why it’s so important for employers to ensure support is always readily available.

Earlier this year, Government issued further guidance which meant businesses must now consider the impact of domestic abuse, such as a drop in work attendance and productivity, as part of their wider duty of care for their employees.

This training can help staff to understand and spot the signs of domestic abuse, support someone who has disclosed abuse as well as signposting them to dedicated services who are on hand to offer crucial help and support.

With more than 2000 champions already active in the region, and the Violence Reduction Unit having released its 2023 training dates, now is your chance to get involved and play your part in ending domestic abuse.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe working environment and for some staff, the workplace can be their only safe haven from domestic abuse. But, we know that in recent years, there has been a huge change in the way many of us work, such as spending more time at home – a place that should feel safe but isn’t for those experiencing abuse. That’s why I’m calling for more businesses to get in touch with the Violence Reduction Unit and get their staff signed up to this vital training. There is so much that can be put in place to support staff even when they are not in the workplace”

She added: “From spotting something that doesn’t sit right to supporting a colleague who has disclosed abuse, this training and support network can make such a difference to those who need it”.

Having already taken part in the training along with other members of his team, Daniel Errington-Barnes from Eldon Square in Newcastle said: “It’s a fantastic scheme which helps you feel fully equipped to deal with a potential domestic abuse situation and most importantly, how to help that person out. You are kept up to date regularly and it is a free service – one that when the time comes, you will be very grateful to be part of. It has heightened my awareness and enabled me to be constantly on the lookout for any signs”.

For more information or to take part in the training, please contact the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit by email vru@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk

ENDS 

Links below to book 2023 DA Champions training:

Stage 1 (online): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/workplace-domestic-abuse-champions-training-stage-1-tickets-491832523317

Stage 1 (In Person): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/workplace-domestic-abuse-champions-training-stage-1-tickets-491881399507

Stage 2 (Online): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/workplace-domestic-abuse-champions-training-stage-2-tickets-491927948737

Stage 2 (In Person): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/workplace-domestic-abuse-champions-training-stage-2-tickets-491943926527

Following recent tragedy in the region, resulting in the loss of two 14 year olds, Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness has reinforced her message that violent crime has no place in communities, and through the Violence Reduction Unit’s Local Youth Fund, she now wants to hear from young people on how they think crime can be prevented. 

With £15,000 available, young people are asked to put forward their ideas on projects or activities that they feel are needed in their local community. As part of this fund, the Violence Reduction Unit is particularly keen to hear ideas on what would make young people stop carrying knives and what would make them feel safer.  

This unique fund continues to put young people from Northumberland, Tyne and Wear at the heart of the decision-making process. Not only do they get the chance to bid for funding up to £500, but through the North East Youth Alliance, a panel of young people are tasked with reviewing applications and deciding which of them should receive the funding. 

Thanks to previous rounds, almost £30,000 has already made a difference to around 4,000 young people through projects and activities they bid for, including a variety of sports activities, training programmes for personal development, improving local areas and a focus on health and well-being.  

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 future life choices.  

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “In recent months, our region has experienced the devastating impact of serious violence, with the tragic loss of two 14 year olds. This is violence at it its worst and it has no place in our communities. Choosing violence such as picking up a knife is never the right answer and I will continue to do all I can to prevent further tragedy, but, I also want to hear from our young people – what do they want in their local community and what do they think would prevent crime. That’s why the Violence Reduction Unit have launched a fourth round of the Local Youth Fund, giving young people the chance to do exactly that. So, if you have an idea that you want to tell us about, or know someone who might, apply to this fund and you could be helping to make a difference in your local area.”  

She added: “In previous rounds, we have seen young people gaining new skills and growing in confidence, which is why I can’t stress enough how important it is that we continue to give them access to opportunities. With the right support, we can help our young people make positive choices for the future and reduce their chance of becoming involved in crime.” 

On behalf of the North East Youth Alliance, NE Youth Chief Executive Jon Niblo said: “We are delighted to work collaboratively with the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit to provide young people with the opportunity to develop small 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.