A new initiative, jointly launched by Northumbria Police, Newcastle City Council and the business body NE1, aims to cut crime and to support victims in Newcastle City Centre. The City Safe Project will see all three organisations working together to tackle crime, lower anti-social behaviour and offer increased support to vulnerable people. Based at the Central library, the new multi-agency hub brings together reps from all three bodies with the key aim of making Newcastle a safer, better place to live, work and visit.
City Safe project
According to a statement released by the local council the team will be made up of police officers who will take an enforcement role, engagement officers who will work with the business community and wider public to address important issues and focused deterrence workers who will work with young adults in the city centre.
Coun Paula Maines, Cabinet Member for a Resilient City, said:
”The safety of our communities is a top priority for us so I’m delighted we are launching the new hub at the City Library. The project is all about listening to the concerns of residents and businesses so partners can take action and tackle the issues that matter most to them.
”It also gives us a platform to build on the extensive work we already do with partners to keep our communities safe and ensure we continue to support vulnerable people in the best way we can. The new hub is a great example of how partners can work together to help the city thrive and ensure it remains the safe and welcoming place we all want it to be.”
Tackling causes of offending
In addition, support service providers, including drug and alcohol specialists, will look to tackle the ”root causes of offending behaviour whilst also supporting vulnerable people.” The project will see increased visibility within the city centre with uniformed patrols backed up by plain clothes officers to target repeat offenders. More police will be based at bus and metro stations to offer reassurance to the public.
Chief Supt Barrie Joice of Northumbria Police said:
”Newcastle is world-renowned as being a vibrant, fun city and we want to ensure it stays as clean, safe and welcoming to visitors and the local community as it can possibly can. However, we accept that there are a number of individuals who do unfortunately come into the city centre to carry out offences, including violent crime and ASB, which is something we will simply not tolerate.”
He added:
”There is some exceptional work ongoing in the city to deal with these issues, but also evidence that this type of disorder is impacting on how safe members of the public feel. Through City Safe, we’ll work closely together with partners to share intelligence and use our full range of services, tactics and legislation to crack down on those intent on causing disruption.
”The project will also see our policing presence in the city centre increased. A total of eight officers working as part of the project will be tasked with problem solving, tackling crime and ASB hotspots, as well as targeting a cohort of individuals by using orders, working with partners to tackle the causes of their offending.
”We and our partners are committed to helping those in need, but make no mistake, we will be taking robust action using the full range of our powers against those who intent on carrying out crime in our city.”
