MAY 2022

School children in the North East's most deprived areas are crying out for fun activities over the Summer, to help stop them getting into trouble with the law.

So many families really feel the pressure when the kids are off at the best of times, never mind when they are being hit left, right and centre by a Cost of Living Crisis. Holidays, days out...even food. It all mounts up.

That's why I have launched my latest round of Operation Payback (where I give cash seized by criminals back to local communities) with a specific focus on giving kids things to do and in turn, cutting summer anti-social behaviour.

A £150,000 funding pot is up for grabs and I'm calling for local youth groups and community groups to apply for a share by telling me about new activity ideas that would help cut down bother for everyone. If you know a kids club or youth group that could do great things with a bit of extra cash, please let them know and encourage them to apply HERE.

Thanks for any help you can give spreading the word..

Kim

Kim McGuinness
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner

Kim McGuinness at Mindstars in North Shields who benefitted from the last round of Payback funding

IMPROVING LIVES

DRIVING BUS IMPROVEMENTS

You may have caught me out and about visiting bus stops and stations across the region this month. That's because I was busy launching my bus survey and was keen to speak with as many of you as possible.

You see, buses are hugely important to the people of the North East which sees 162 million bus journeys made each year. As part of consultation work last year, people told me they wanted a bus service that was not only affordable and reliable but safe too. So I am doing all I can to understand how these journeys can be made safer for everyone. I'm going to feed everything you tell me back to transport operators and work to bring about improvements that local people want to see. You can complete my survey HERE.

PREVENTING CRIME

SAFER STREETS FOR EVERYONE

Earlier this month I put in a bid for two million pounds worth of funding for force-wide projects to improve public safety and tackle anti-social behaviour on nights out and on public transport.

Plans include enhanced police patrols on nights out and more overtime for officers on the Metro as well as diversion schemes, behaviour change programmes and awareness campaigns.

After years of budget cuts, there’s a lot at stake if Government don’t commit to funding our plans. You can read more HERE.

FIGHTING CRIME

TAKING KNIVES OFF THE STREETS

The latest Operation Sceptre saw more than 210 knives and other potentially dangerous items taken into police possession in our area ranging from kitchen knives to machetes and swords- making it another success story in the clampdown on knife crime and violence.

Knife crime is real - but there is lots happening in our region to drive it down and keep our region a safe one. My Violence Reduction Unit team will keep getting in front of kids in schools and educating them on the realities, the dangers and the devastation having a knife in your pocket can bring too.

The fight against knife crime here in the North East will not stop.

DID YOU KNOW?

There is a cost of living crisis.

We must fight poverty to fight crime because those in lower income households are:

TWICE as likely to suffer violence with injury.

THREE TIMES as likely to be robbed and mugged.

TWICE as likely to be burgled twice as likely to be burgled

DEMANDS ON POLICING

In 2022 so far, the number of 999 calls are up almost 40% when compared to the same period in 2021.

Northumbria Police has recruited 65 new contact handlers, with plans to bring in an additional 60 workers by the end of the year.

There is also a new call-back system, where people who dial 101 won’t need to wait on the phone.

Keep in touch...

E: enquiries@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk
T: 0191 221 9800
W: www.northumbria-pcc.gov.uk

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