PROJECT SHIELD’ PRAISED AS SERIOUS VIOLENCE FALLS BY A QUARTER ACROSS HOTPSOT AREAS IN NORTHUMBRIA
HIGH visibility patrols rolled out through Project Shield have helped towards a significant decrease in serious violence across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, says Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth.
Police figures show serious violence has fallen by 23 per cent across hot spot areas, compared to the same period the year before. In Sunderland City Centre the fall has been 25 per cent – a welcome and reassuring reduction after the scenes of civil unrest earlier this year.
The Project Shield hotspot policing approach sees high visibility patrols and targeted activity specifically rolled out in areas of previous concern. It aims to deter crime and reassure the local community. Additional patrols and activity provide the opportunity to prevent crime and gather important intelligence.
So far this year, the project has helped deliver nearly 6000 additional hours of foot patrols in the 15 hotspot areas, working alongside Nexus, stagecoach, British Transport Police and all six local authorities in the Northumbria Police force area.
As well as law enforcement action, crime deterrence and community engagement, those involved in the project have also been coming together to focus on the root causes of serious violence and devise long term plans to help prevent it. The Northumbria Violence Reduction is also playing a key part in preventing spikes in serious violence through its Seasonal Violence Fund. This delivers projects working closely with Community Safety Partnerships, Northumbria Police and a range of youth and community organisations, in a bid to tackle serious violence together and steer young people away from criminality.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “Not only are these results really encouraging, but I am also finding people that speak to me when I’m out in these communities or attending meetings are saying the same thing – they’ve been noticing more officers and crucially, they’ve been feeling safer. When I was elected, I made a commitment to delivering safer streets and stronger communities and I am grateful to Northumbria Police and all our partners working on this project because this targeted approach is paying off – it’s stopping serious harm from happening. People need to feel safe and comfortable when they’re going about living their lives and we’re really committed to keeping the momentum up with this work to show we are listening and responding to the concerns of residents and businesses.”
Chief Superintendent Joanne Park-Simmons, of Northumbria Police, said: “These are very welcoming figures as we and our partner organisations continue to work hard to further reduce serious violence across our communities. The public and those working in businesses should rest assured that much more Project Shield activity is planned in the upcoming weeks and months to keep people safe, deter crime and positively engage with people. If you have any concerns over anti-social behaviour or crime in your area, then please do not hesitate to contact us so that we can take the appropriate action, while also further building on our intelligence picture around any issues affecting our communities.”
Cllr Kelly Chequer, Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council, and Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Safer Communities, said: “It is a high priority for us that our residents are safe when they are out and about in the city centre, and we work closely with our partners to help everyone feel safe and reassured, so I am delighted to see the difference Project Shield is making already. It is reassuring to see some excellent early results. Our Neighbourhood Enforcement Team will continue its high visibility patrols and engagement with residents and businesses to not only tackle violent crime but also get to the bottom of the issues that cause it.”
Project Shield is a force-wide project to protect communities by tackling serious violence and antisocial behaviour in hotspot areas. Project Shield investment was secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria through the ASB Hotspot Response Fund and will run until March 2025.
END
