Last Friday I walked the beat with Northumbria Police Neighbourhood Inspector John Swan, who covers the area from Berwick down to Morpeth, to discuss the crime and antisocial behaviour (ASB) issues that constituents have been raising with me. I wanted to share some updates with you today. Did you know:
✔️ Given the rural nature of our area, rural response cops in Berwick – as opposed to Bedlington or Blyth for example – undergo different training, in order to have more skills on hand.
✔️ Northumbria Police will be recruiting an additional 134 frontline police officers, increasing the force's ability to tackle crime and ASB in our communities.
✔️ Further, Northumbria Police is one of only four trailblazing police forces in the country receiving pilot funding for 'hotspot policing' and 'immediate justice' initiatives. This means that swift and visible punishments will be delivered to offenders, helping to deter others from committing similar crimes.
✔️ The police are more aware if more people report, via: 999 for emergencies, 101 or online for non-emergencies: bit.ly/3GNJi1V Three or more ASB reports in six months enables the actioning of a 'Community Trigger' – a Case Review to make sure agencies properly deal with persistent ASB.
✔️ You, your friends, family and neighbours know the neighbourhood policing issues in your communities best, so I would also encourage you to help shape neighbourhood policing by sharing your views and concerns via the new tool: northumbriaconnected.co.uk
✔️ This week, the Government set out how it plans to outlaw the sale of machetes and other terrifying weapons, which are often used by criminal gangs, as well as increase prison sentences for those selling knives to children. This is a significant step in reducing violent crime in our communities.
✔️ Finally, I am pleased to report that new plans to cut red tape will reduce the 443,000 officer hours spent on forms and paperwork every year, freeing up more valuable time for frontline policing in our community.
