Local Initiatives
Street Safe Boxes
We have deployed a street safe box to every ward to allow information to be passed to the officers or to request contact with them. Only the officer holds the key to the box, so the information is kept confidential. Any urgent information or request should be made by telephone, this service is for lower level matters. People can remain anonymous but officers can't provide an update if they don't know who to contact.
The boxes are deployed as follows:
Delves Village Store
Park House Lanchester
Post Office Burnhope
Londis store Esh Winning
Post Office Leadgate
Tesco, Delves Lane
Queens Road Surgery Blackhill
Post Office Shotley Bridge
Phoenix Centre Moorside
Village Hall Castleside
Top Shop Medomsley
Civic Centre, Consett
Farmwatch scheme
All farms across Derwentside have been approached to form a support and information scheme. Over 90% of farms and some prominent rual properties have been included in the scheme, which provided the farm with a unique identifier number. This allows quicker and easier locating of the property by the communications centre and also for officers attending the property as they get a sign with the number on to display at the head of the drive. This saves time and disruption as officers get to a property more directly. All members have the opportunity to get there property security marked using Smartwater, a chemical which has a uniquely identifiable marker within it. The marker is recorded on a national database, which should improve the ability to identify and recover stolen property.
During the year, local officers will carry out operations in the rural area, utilising Farmwatch members to help in it, building links with community and improving reassurance within it.
School surgeries
In an attempt to build links with young people, the three secondary schools within the area have been encouraging police staff to hold a surgery within their school during a lunch time. This allows the students the opportunity to speak to an officer by choice on any subject they wish. It is hoped that young people will get to know their local officers more and be more comfortable in talking to them in future.
Prompt cards for Polish people
With the rise in the number of Polish people who now live in Consett, a prompt card was devised and issued to all front line officers to try and assist with communication problems. The cards cover some very general questions to help illicit information from polish residents.
Test Purchasing operations in Pubs
Consett was the first station in the county to carry out test purchasing at pubs. The scheme utilising young people, sees them sent into pubs with the aim of buying alcohol inside the premises. This follows standard practice for off licences that have been used for some time now. If alcohol is illegally sold to the young person, then a fixed penalty notice is issued and the licence for the premises will be reviewed.
Joint Fire Patrols
During identified problem periods such as the two weeks leading up to bonfire night, police officers will patrol with fire officers targeting areas where the fire service have traditionally had problems in the past. This has been used to great affect during the school holidays and had led to a big reduction in fires in the area. Any young people who are caught misbehaving will face a home visit by staff from both services.
Anti social premises
During 2007, two houses in Langley Park have been closed down and the occupants removed due to their drugs use and anti social behaviour at the premises. This has been achieved under legislation from 2002 but it does require assistance from partner agencies and the public and both parts of the problem must be proved. The two streets that were affected have seen an improvement in the quality of life for the residents.
Consett Crime Team
A crime team made up of a sergeant and four police constables was set up in January 2008 to further reduce crime and increase public confidence. They quickly began to make arrests as people were identified as responsible for offences and targeted problems and individuals as intelligence was received. In the three months, January to March, the team has arrested over 100 people and searched 30 homes. This lead to the recovery of cannabis plants and equipment with a street value of over £56,000, plus an assortment of other drugs, weapons, and stolen property. In another case six people who had terrorised on a local estate were charged in two seperate cases. Based on these successes the team has been given the green light for a further three months.
Challenge 21
Licensees throughout Weardale have signed up to an initiative designed to call time on underage drinking - and protect communities from drink fuelled disorder.
Almost 300 pubs, clubs and off-licences have signed up to the new Challenge 21 scheme.
The Crook Neighbourhood Policing Team and it's neighbours in Bishop Auckland and Weardale have gathered strong support from licensees and local residents keane to reduce nuisance behaviour in the area.
The aim is that licensees will challenge anyone who comes into their premises who look 21 or under. Before they get served they will need to produce some kind of formal ID to prove their age.
