I’m writing this month’s newsletter on the train back from London returning from a busy few days at a national policing conference. Having heard the Home Secretary set out her vision for police reform I’m travelling back to Northumbria feeling motivated with ideas and plans to help deliver safer streets and stronger communities for our area.

I welcomed commitments around improving performance, restoring confidence and protecting neighbourhoods from crime. It’s pleasing to have a Government putting their money where their mouth is— announcing an additional half a billion of funding to support its Safer Streets Mission to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour. Northumbria is ready and waiting to put our share of this to good use.

Latest figures from Northumbria show an 18% drop in youth ASB in the past year and a 28% fall in transport ASB. My office, our police force and all our partners are determined to build on this progress and keep delivering improvements as I will be outlining in my new Police and Crime Plan in the new year.

Best wishes,
 
Susan Dungworth
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner

Project Shield

14,338 additional patrol hours have been delivered by Northumbria Police and partners since the start of Project Shield earlier this year - resulting in 103 arrests.

We launched Project Shield back in July to come together and boost resources and visibility and I’m pleased to report it’s having a real impact on both ASB and serious violence. The impact it's made so far:

- 19% fall in ASB
- 6% reduction in serious violence
- 37% fall in knife crime
- 4212 police patrol hours
- 63 arrests
- 16,450 engagements with the public

I really believe having a strong patrol presence like this is crucial to people feeling safe and comfortable in their community. There has been a good mix of law enforcement and prevention work happening and it’s all paying off.
16 days of action

We are currently in the throes of the national 16 days of action campaign against gender-based violence and I want to use this opportunity to tell employers in our region about Active Bystander Training. Public sexual harassment shouldn’t be a fact of life and employers can play a vital role in helping drive change in our society.

My office has funded Kindling Interventions training that gives people the understanding and confidence to have conversations with friends, family and colleagues around issues like misogyny and sexism that lead to violence against women and girls.

I recently called into a session my office were delivering to local tech business Opencast - clearly a forward-thinking company that gets its responsibility with this, and I hope others will follow their lead.

More on that here.
A&E Navigators

After seeing our A&E Navigator project in action at Sunderland Royal Hospital, I’m keen to tell you about the impact it’s having on young people and local communities.

This initiative provides crucial support to young people from 10-25 years, presenting in A&E for injuries or concerns related to violent crime, offering what we call a ‘teachable moment’.

We must keep doing everything we can to break the cycle of violence, and thanks to Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Waythrough and Together for Children, this project demonstrates the importance of working together to tackle serious youth violence, and create safer communities.

Read more.
On message

During the period of disorder in Sunderland Northumbria Police’s communications team fielded over 20,000 messages as residents are now able to report incidents through a social media direct message, via live web chat or on the force website. This was a month’s worth of messages....in 2 days!

Last week, I got to say thanks to some of the staff in the control room who were on the receiving end. If you ever need to report a non-emergency or share information with the force, please consider one of these methods.
Come march with us

- Sat 30th November
- Bigg Market, Newcastle
- March 6.15pm (women only)
- Rally at Baltic Square 7pm (all welcome)


Reclaim the Night has been an event empowering women for years but women’s safety is STILL very much an issue, and we need to get our voices heard.

The more people get together, the more allies we have, the more we can change society so women can go out at night without fear.

More info here.
In the news

It was great to join reporter Carol Malia and Sue Pearce from Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland on the BBC Look North sofa the other week - together we have been getting the word out about our new educational resource based on our #ItAllAddsUp campaign.

It’s free online to schools, youth leaders, and educators to help educate and inform young people about sexual harassment and the impact that this has on women and girls.

Access the resources here.