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Neighbourhood Policing Team
I am a Police Inspector with over 22 years' service. I began my career on Response in the Crook and Bishop Auckland areas, followed by a decade on traffic / firearms. I was promoted into the Force Control Room where I served for 3.5 years, working as Force Incident Manager and a Tactical Firearms Commander. Since September 2024 I have been the Neighbourhood Police Inspector for Chester le Street, overseeing the implementation of Operation DRIVE and the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. I am proud to serve the local community and am determined for our team to be visible and proactive in disrupting crime and anti-social behaviour, using a problem solving approach with partners to make sure Chester le Street is a great place to live and work.
– I am a Police Sergeant with 23 years’ service having spent all my service in front line roles. I have been the Chester Le Street Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant for 18 months. I am really enjoying this role and the challenges it has given me, specifically the introduction of Operation DRIVE and being focused on the ASB issues on and around the Front Street.
I am a Police Constable having joined Durham Constabulary in 2021. I have recently joined the Chester Le Street Neighbour team following serving the majority of my service on Response policing covering all three stations across the West of the county. Policing is a challenging career however I enjoy the ability to be pro-active and give back to the community in my role as a Neighbourhood officer.
I am a Police Constable with 19 years’ service the majority of which has been spent on front line response. I joined the beat team to pursue a new challenge and to make a difference in the local community. I currently cover The Avenues, Garden Farm, Waldridge Village and Chester Moor areas.
I am a Police Constable with over 16 years’ experience in front lines roles, that include Neighbour Hood Policing and Response Policing. I am trained in Method of Entry and an LPSM ( Lost Person Search Manager ) and currently serving as a Beat Officer based at Chester le Street. Chester le Street at times can be a challenging place to work , but I love the variety in policing it gives me and enjoy engaging with the public.
I am a PCSO covering the Chester Le Street town centre area and specifically the front street. I have over 20 years’ experience having spent my whole career in this role and area. I am the organiser of the Chester le street Activity Week which is ow in its 19th year. The event is funded by local businesses and the community to a cost of over £26,000 each year and has approximately 25000 visitors each year. I am the area contact for the shop watch scheme and I’m fully focussed on reducing ASB and shoplifting in my area.
I am a police community support officer based at Chester-Le-Street. I joined Durham constabulary in November 2024 so I am still fairly new but have loved every minute since starting. My role entails community engagement and supporting the public and local businesses. I enjoy visiting schools, working with different agencies to tackle ASB and learning new skills.
Crimes and priorities
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Priority:
Action taken:
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Priority:
High visibility patrols around the identified area.
Action taken:
As part of the neighbourhood policing guarantee we have raised the amount of foot patrol hours in the front street area. As part of the foot patrol officers have been encouraged to engage with local businesses to give advice regarding security and point of sale items. Officers presence has also proved as a deterrent to thieves which has been evident in the reduction of reported thefts. By officer engagement and shop watch it has led to increased offender identification which has led to an increased detection rate for shoplifting in this area.
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Priority:
Youth ASB in the Town Centre, particularly in and around the Front Street. Group of named 12-14 year old males who are causing general ASB and annoyance with their presence.
Action taken:
Chester le Street Front Street is a hotspot for youth ASB, and we saw a spike there in Autumn. The NPT carried out extra high visibility patrols including a dedicated week of action. Many youths were removed and taken home to their parents, ASB forms submitted to DCC and a group were referred to a diversionary programme called Future Pathways. There was also some criminality, with arrests made and referral to YOT.
This saw a reduction in the ASB and the core group was diverted. However, this year we have seen an increase with another, younger group of youths. Actions taken thus far:
•The Front Street and surrounding areas were designated a Hotspot and have benefitted from Government funding for additional high visibility foot patrols.
•Increased ASB forms submitted to DCC who are taking ASB action against those involved, including ABCs and warning letters.
•Partnership approach with Durham Constabulary, Durham County Council (Safer Places Team, Neighbourhood Wardens), Karbon Homes with regular meetings. Area was designated a TLP which focused resources including CCTV.•Robust approach with numerous arrests and use of bail conditions. We are currently collating numerous offences into one individual with the aim of applying for an order to help control behaviour. There have been numerous TAF meetings around this individual with partners including social workers to address offending. This work is ongoing.
•We have used social media to encourage parents to know where their children are and what they are getting up to.
•Engagement with Councillors whose ward includes Front Street. We are also looking into the possibility of securing a youth shelter to encourage young people away from the area of the Front Street.
•Problem solving a target hardening approach eg. Recommendation to DCC (via Cllr Husband) for the removal of the steps at the bottom of Tuart St, where youths were congregating a causing ASB, and the application of anti climb paint at the rear of Coral’s to prevent youths gaining access to the roof.
•Use of drone (secured from funding by PCC Joy Allen) along with 2 recently trained pilots on the team. Success early on eg. Youths on the roof of the old Cooperative building – identified thanks to drone and the photograph of them on the roof publicised via social media to highlight new capability. We no longer experience issues with youths on the roofs of the Front Street.
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Priority:
South Pelaw/North Lodge C2C route - reports of anti social use of off road and electric bikes across the beat area and an increased use of electric scooters.
Action taken:
Working with Durham Constabulary bike section and the DCC street wardens with extra patrols and dedicated operations (Operation DRIVE). Plus use of new drone we have been able to deter users of off road bikes and ebikes and scooters. We have designed an OP DRIVE / OP Endurance flyer to circulate informing residents of our actions in these areas. We have also designed a leaflet around the use of electric scooters and the requirement for relevant licenses, insurance and safety equipment if ridden on the road. The aim is to educate parents around the use of these vehicles.
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Priority:
Excess speeding from Pelaw Bank to Pelton Lane
Action taken:
Deployment of community speed watch on road network from Pelaw Bank to Pelton Lane with updates posted on social media. High visibility patrols in South Pelaw area to deter motorists.