Anti-social behaviour hotspots in North Tyneside are being targeted in a multi-agency campaign this May bank holiday weekend.
Northumbria Police, North Tyneside Council and Nexus – which runs the Metro – are joining forces to clampdown on troublemakers. The move follows a spate of anti-social behaviour incidents on both the Metro and along the coastal strip over the Easter school holidays, most notably around Tynemouth and Cullercoats.
These included attacks on young people and serious youth disorder on the Metro, which saw Nexus take the unusual step of preventing trains stopping at Tynemouth station after a group of up to 30 teenagers took over a platform, smashing a carriage window and assaulting a security guard.
Read more: Gang of youths attack Tynemouth shopkeeper and ransack Co-op store
In another incident on Easter Monday evening, a gang of around 12 youths burst into the Co-op on Tynemouth Front Street and helped themselves to booze, chocolate and other items, before jostling, pushing, spitting at and threatening a member of staff with a bottle.
He later said in an emotive Facebook post that in 35 years' in retail running stores in Blyth, Ashington, Byker, Walker and West Denton, he had never “felt that intimidated”.
Two 16-year-olds were earlier in April assaulted at Palmersville and Tynemouth Metro stations in separate incidents, and another teenager suffered a fractured cheekbone when he was attacked in an unprovoked incident in Cullercoats after enjoying a day at the beach at the end of March. He later had to undergo surgery.
Now Northumbria Police and North Tyneside Community Protection Officers (CPOs) have increased foot, bike and car patrols throughout the area. Meanwhile, security staff drafted in for the Metro will remain highly visible.
The police and council officials say they are ready to confiscate alcohol, temporarily disperse anyone causing problems and even visit the homes of those caught causing trouble.
Sergeant Richard Hay, of Northumbria Police’s Wallsend Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We know that typically as the weather improves, we see more people out and about which coincides with us receiving more reports of anti-social behaviour.
“This notably includes concerns about the behaviour of young people. While it is important to recognise that the overwhelming majority of young people are a credit to themselves and their local area, a minority of individuals can sometimes be drawn into anti-social behaviour and I’d like to reiterate that this type of activity simply won’t be tolerated."
He added: “We are committed to working with our partners, including the local authority and the communities impacted to effectively deal with this type of behaviour.
“Supported by North Tyneside Council, our increased efforts will see officers and CPOs increase car, foot and bike patrols. We want the community to see us out and about and feel able to approach us with any issues.
“Where young people resist initial engagement and encouragement, we will make home visits to suspected offenders and their parents and hand out Dispersal Orders, which can ban people from entering an area for 48 hours. Those caught with alcohol will also see it seized.”
“By working together we can ensure the area remains a safe and pleasant place for everyone to enjoy.”
The message is reinforced by Richard Mitchell, Security and Community Public Space Protection Manager at North Tyneside Council. He said: “In response to some recent complaints of antisocial behaviour, the council is supporting the police and stepping up our joint patrols to combat the problem and reassure our residents in areas where concerns have been raised.
“North Tyneside remains a safe place to live and we will take whatever action is necessary to keep it that way”.
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