They got the job!

There was big news for neighbourhood policing in September as we welcomed 104 new police recruits to Northumbria – the Force’s biggest single intake in years!

It was great to meet our new officers on Day 1 of their careers. They’re the future of safer streets and stronger communities – and they’re ready to make a real difference. I look forward to catching up with them later in their training and welcoming more new starters in the coming months thanks to the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

Thinking about a career in policing? Take a look.

The Trojan Bus has been back on the beat

Northumbria Police’s ‘Trojan’ bus – a decoy bus where the passengers are plain clothes police officers – has been back on the beat, as part of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative, helping officers take tough action at anti-social behaviour hotspots.

One Friday evening I joined officers, partners and a Home Office representative to see this tactic in action as part of Project Shield.

This latest operation with partners across South Tyneside & Sunderland delivered 72 positive interactions helping to prevent crime, keep people safe and reassure our communities.

The region’s Knife Crime Taskforce has relaunched

The Northern Echo backed Knife Crime Taskforce is a really useful forum to help ensure we approach knife crime on a region-wide basis - sharing strategies, interventions and initiatives that can help turn lives around.

At the meeting we heard about some excellent work we have going on and it should reassure the public that we are absolutely on the issue of knife crime.

In Northumbria we will keep working with others and building on Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit’s prevention efforts to help keep our communities safe.

A good night out is a safe night out

Starting university is a huge step — not just for students, but for parents too. For many, it’s the first taste of independence, and we want to make sure it’s a positive one.

Here in Northumbria, student safety is a top priority. From extra policing operations to trusted services like the Safe Haven Van, we’ve invested in keeping our city centres safe — especially during busy times like Freshers.

The van is a supportive space for anyone who finds themselves in difficulty during a night out. Whether someone feels unwell, has lost their friends, or needs help getting home – it’s there to ensure nobody is left feeling vulnerable.

Last Friday I joined Show Racism the Red Card and the Foundation of Light for one of their anti racism workshops (first one of the season!) attended by 90 primary school children from across Sunderland.

Over 7,000 children took part in these workshops last year with funding help from my office - the more we reach the better.

The message from these sessions is clear - stand up to racism. With so much misinformation online, and tensions rising in parts of the country, it’s vital that young people get the facts and feel confident to challenge racism wherever they see it.