2025 has been quite a year – we’ve certainly had a few curveballs thrown at us here at the OPCC from announcements calling time on the role of the PCC to whispers of police force mergers – all that aside, there has been plenty of progress made and many notable successes along the way and I am determined to ensure there will be more of this for the remainder of my term.

Earlier this year we rolled out a successful Safer Streets Summer Initiative and have now made a seasonal switch into our Winter of Action - detailed later. With the help of initiatives like this, there has been a 22% reduction in antisocial behaviour across the whole force area. Recent data for areas targeted through Project Shield show an even sharper decrease of 32% - achievements like this I am particularly proud of especially as ASB is one of the issues residents most frequently raise with me. 

Looking ahead, I want to keep building on this good work to drive ASB down, and I also want to ensure we are focused on tackling online crime – something I raised at the Police and Crime Panel in Gateshead this week. Offending in the digital world has risen by 24% this year following the introduction of the Online Harms Act in 2023 covering VAWG related crimes like intimate image sharing and online harassment. And so, while we have welcomed the rise in officer numbers through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee delivering more visible policing in our communities, for me it is equally vital that officers have the capacity and resources to investigate ever-growing online offending. This is undoubtedly an area that will require our focus as we look to the year ahead.

In the meantime, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported the work of my team and I over the last year - from residents engaging with me to partners working alongside us to  help deliver safer streets and stronger communities for the people of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all.

Best wishes,

Susan Dungworth
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner

Priority 1: 

Engaged and responsive police force
Operation Impact hit Sunderland last week and achieved some great results showing local residents Northumbria Police is acting on the issues and concerns that matter to them - such as antisocial behaviour and motorbike disorder.

I was there to see some of the robust activity in action and it’s clear there’s a lot of hard work that goes into these operations – with a lot of people involved. Warrants were served, licensing visits were made and drone units were deployed alongside other tactics and engagement work.

My thanks go to everyone working hard to deliver these days of action – they’re key to delivering safer streets and stronger communities.

Priority 2: 

Crime and antisocial behaviour
December has kicked off with an Operation Canvas crackdown. This operation is about cutting the time and effort it takes to charge repeat shoplifters in Newcastle City Centre - using a streamlined reporting and prosecution tool designed to benefit retailers while also taking a hardline approach to persistent offenders. There have been 60 convictions to date since Canvas launched earlier this year. Of those convictions, 58 offenders pleaded guilty to shoplifting offences.

The operation is being rolled out as part of a whole raft of work through the Government’s Winter of Action initiative. It is all about cutting crime and ensuring people feel safe this festive season whether they are out celebrating in our bars and clubs or heading to our busy high streets Christmas shopping.

Find out more here.

Priority 3: 

Serious violence and organised crime
Last Friday I joined members of SAIL (Sunderland Altogether Improving Lives) to mark three years of a partnership that has tackled violence, crime, and anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Sunderland city centre.

Responding to residents’, businesses’ and visitors’ concerns, this multi-agency response has delivered impressive results since 2022. From 1st Nov 2024 to 1st Dec 2025, all ASB is down 28%, with alcohol-related ASB down 41%. Burglary is down 33%, Theft and Handling down 20% and Criminal Damage down 19% in other successes.

This has been possible through joint working from the SAIL hub and supported by funding from Northumbria’s Violence Reduction Unit.

Priority 4: 

Violence against women and girls
No one should have to choose between escaping abuse and protecting the animal they love.

“I put up with abuse for over two years because I couldn’t leave my dog, Henry, behind.
Freedom gave me the lifeline I needed, and knowing he was safe meant I could finally escape. If I’d known about it sooner, I would’ve left sooner, and Henry wouldn’t have had to suffer either.” – these are the words of a domestic abuse victim-survivor.

Abusers know the power of a pet — and they use it. For too many victims, the fear of leaving a beloved pet behind is the final barrier to escaping abuse.

That’s why during the 16 Days of Activism we teamed up with the Dogs Trust to raise awareness of the support available through their brilliant Freedom team and to help promote their appeal for dog fosterers alongside a wonderful dog fosterer from North Tyneside.

Through specialist fostering projects like the brilliant Freedom, we can offer a path to safety for both survivors and their pets.

To find out more about Freedom, or to sign up to become a foster carer for the project, visit: www.dogstrustfreedom.org.uk

Priority 5: 

Hate crime and community cohesion
I was deeply saddened by what happened in Bondi, Australia earlier this week and I think it’s important to acknowledge the impact such events have on members of the Jewish community all over the world, including here in the North East.

Incidents like this understandably cause fear, distress, and uncertainty, and my thoughts have been with all those affected. Northumbria Police reassured me that increased visibility and patrols were in place around Synagogues and other locations significant to our Jewish communities to provide support and reassurance. My office also commission Connected Voice as our hate crime support service  - should anyone wish to make contact for support at any time.

We all have a role to play in looking out for one another. By remaining vigilant, reporting concerns, and standing together against hatred.

Priority 6: 

Victims and justice
During the 16 days of activism campaign to prevent and end violence against women and girls, I also wanted to highlight proactive policing efforts like Operation Vigilant.

Vigilant involves specially trained officers being deployed out in the Night Time Economy to identify individuals who may be displaying predatory behaviour such as harassment, loitering without reason and stalking behaviour. Police stop those individuals, enquiries are carried out, dispersal orders given or where necessary arrests are made.

People don’t necessarily know this work is happening, yet it forms part of a raft of measures we have in place to keep people safe on a night out.

You can read more on results from the first year of the operation here.
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