THOUSANDS of additional patrol hours have been delivered by Northumbria Police and partners since the start of Project Shield earlier this year, resulting in 103 arrests.

Police and partners have spent more than 14,338 extra hours patrolling anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence hotspots across the force area leading to weapons seized, ASB powers used, arrests made and positive engagement with the public.

Project Shield was set up to bring partners together to maximise visible uniformed patrols in hotspot areas and ensure collaboration on longer term problem solving to tackle the root causes of ASB and serious violence.

These additional patrols, funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office seek to prevent crime and gather important intelligence.

The project brings together Northumbria Police, Nexus, Stagecoach, British Transport Police and the six local authorities that make up the force area. The joint aim is to increase visibility in areas of concern, helping to deter crime and reassure the local community.

Figures from between July and September this year, show an overall ASB reduction in hotspot areas of 19% and a reduction in serious violence of 6%.

South Shields Town Centre has experienced a notable fall in ASB, which is down 48% compared to the same period last year. A Meadow Well hotspot area in North Tyneside has also seen a welcome reduction of 35%.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “We launched Project Shield back in July to come together and boost resource and boost visibility and it’s having a real impact on both ASB and serious violence. I really believe increased visibility like this is crucial to people feeling safe and comfortable in their community. There has been a lot of good work happening and it’s paying off – I want to see this continue.”

Susan added: “It’s not just about the patrols, there’s a huge variety of work going on alongside them in the background. On one hand our police are busy with warrants and arrests and on the other hand, we have a whole raft of prevention, support and diversion work. It really is about coming together to deliver safer streets and stronger communities.”

Chief Superintendent Joanne Park-Simmons, of Northumbria Police, said: “Project Shield is a vital part of our work in reducing serious violence and ASB across the Force area and we are encouraged by these latest figures and the clear progress being made.

“No-one should have to live with this kind of criminality on their doorstep and rest assured we have much more activity planned in the coming weeks and months to tackle serious violence and ASB, using all the powers and resources at our disposal.

“If there are issues with serious violence and ASB in your area, please contact us so that we can take the appropriate action.

“Together, alongside our partners, we can ensure our region remains one of the safest parts of the country.”

Cllr Jim Foreman, Lead Member for Housing and Community Safety at South Tyneside Council, said: “This is a fantastic result and shows that we are really delivering for our communities.

“We’ve been working hard alongside our partners to crack down on ASB because our residents consistently tell us that it is one of their top priorities.

“Our Project Shield officers, working with the business and community responders, are a valuable asset who provide a visible, reassuring presence, helping to target hotspot areas.

“This operation is really paying dividends in helping create stronger, safer communities.”

Cllr Karen Clark, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour at North Tyneside Council, said: “The results of Project Shield speak for themselves, with significant reductions in ASB in hotspot areas, thanks to some outstanding partnership work. These extra patrol hours are helping to make our communities safer and reassure residents, alongside our ongoing efforts to tackle the root causes of ASB. We remain committed to this work, ensuring our neighbourhoods stay safe, secure, and welcoming for all.”

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 Hotspot Response Fund and will run until March 2025.

ASB Awareness Week 2024 is running from 18th – 24th November. The overarching theme and hashtag for the week is #MakingCommunitiesSafer.

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