Neighbourhood Policing Team
I am the Neighbourhood Policing Team Inspector for Newton Acyliffe, Sedgefield, Shildon and surrounding areas. I have worked for Durham Constabulary for 17 years in various roles within the organisation including; Response, Crime Team, Executive Office, and MOSOVO. These previous roles have helped me understand a broad perspective of our communities and how best to serve them.
My aim is to build community relationships, robustly tackle ASB and Crime, protect vulnerable people and ensure my team are visible within the community. I am fully committed to ensuring the safety of the communities and welcome working alongside our partners and residents to achieve this.
Mike is the Sergeant for Shildon, Sedgefield, Fishburn and the surrounding villages.
Mike previously worked as a Police Community Support Officer in North Yorkshire Police before joining Durham Constabulary as a Police Constable in 2017. During this time he worked predominantly in Response Policing before later transferring into Neighbourhood Policing.
Mike is committed to the areas he works and in supporting his team to do the best they can for the community, keeping people safe and relentlessly pursuing the people who commit crime and anti-social behaviour.
Hi,
I joined Durham Constabulary in January 2021 and have spent all my time working on response, working in Crook, Bishop and 3 years in Aycliffe. I have enjoyed policing Aycliffe and am excited to become part of the Neighbourhood Police Team and getting to know the community more. I am hoping to be able to help tackle ongoing issues for the community and make Aycliffe a safer environment for everyone.
Meet Gemma, your local beat officer for Newton Aycliffe.
Gemma is a new addition to Aycliffe beats, having spent the last 7 years on dog section. Gemma has loved her time with Police Dogs, searching for burglars and Firearms, and everything in between.
Along with her wealth of experience, and approachable personality, Gemma brings a whole new skillset to community policing. She can't wait to get to know her beat!
Hello!
I joined Durham Constabulary back in 2017 and I have worked as a Police Community Support Officer, Cohesion Officer and Police Constable. Over this period of time I have worked different areas, including Darlington, Spennymoor, Crook and Bishop Auckland, for Response, Prisoner Handling Team and Neighbourhoods. I have various different skills including Taser and being trained as a Public Safety Officer; I am always eager to learn more if opportunities arise to aid my role.
I have chosen to move back to Neighbourhoods as I do want to make a difference in local communities and problem solve the local issues. I am new to Newton Ayliffe but I am looking forward to getting to know local communities and listening to their issues and I will do my best in attempt to resolve them making my beat area a safer place to live and work.
My name is Samuel Douglas, and I’ve been a Response Police Officer since January 2023, serving the South of Durham area, primarily in Newton Aycliffe. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time in Newton Aycliffe and am excited to have joined the Neighbourhood Policing Team, where I can work more closely with the community, meet residents, and offer support where it’s needed most.
I have specialised training in PSU and MOE, which I aim to continue developing during my time at Aycliffe. I’m passionate about tackling repeat offenders and those who continually target vulnerable members of our community, helping to make Aycliffe a safer place for everyone and ensuring those that cause harm are off the streets and brought to justice. My goal is to make a positive and lasting difference to the quality of life for local residents by addressing the issues that matter most to them.
Hello, my name is Steven Kipling, and I have been part of the Neighbourhood Policing Team at Newton Aycliffe as a Police Community Support Officer since November 2018. I currently cover Aycliffe Western/School Aycliffe.
I’m passionate about building trust within the community — engaging with the public, offering reassurance, and working closely with local community groups/local schools to help create a safer, more confident environment for everyone.
In October 2024, I became a trained drone pilot which is an additional skill to my regular role, which adds a valuable extra layer to the support I provide in operational policing.
I joined the police as a PCSO in November 2023 and have been in the role for the past 18 months. I enjoy being out and about in the community, building relationships, offering support, and helping to make a positive difference in people's daily lives. Whether it's offering a reassuring presence, addressing local concerns, or working with partner agencies, I am passionate about engaging with the public and being able to help and support the community. Every day brings new challenges, and I take pride in playing and active part in keeping our neighbourhoods safe and build confidence in the Local Police.
I am a Police Community Support Officer working for the beat team at Newton Aycliffe. My main area is the Town centre. I have worked for Durham Constabulary for nearly five years working in Shildon for two years and now Newton Aycliffe for almost three years. I take pride in building strong relationships with local residents and want to instil confidence and promote a safe, supportive environment. I enjoy working the town centre as I can get involved in various events which take place.
Crimes and priorities
-
Priority:
Action taken:
-
Priority:
Anti-Social Behaviour & Off-Road Bikes –
The anti-social use of off-road bikes on our roads and paths remains an issue for Newton Aycliffe Neighbourhood Team and we rely on intelligence from the local community who assist us in dealing with this issue.
The increase in ASB in the town centre area has also been brought up at the most recent PACT meeting on 07/05/2026 where PCSOs Kipling & Fotheringham attended, and this remains an important priority for the Neighbourhood Team.
Action taken:
Off-road bikes remain a nuisance in most towns, including Newton Aycliffe. A massive part in assisting us in seizing off-road bikes being used in an anti-social manner is reports from the public.
Officers from the Neighbourhood Team and response regularly carry out high-visibility patrols, and most recently on Thursday 7th May 2026, NPT PCs Douglas and Montelatyc seized a bike from a local youth who had been causing a nuisance to residents. The youth was also reported for driving offences.
In regards to the youth related ASB in the town centre, over the past few months, several youths have been arrested for incidents such as criminal damage, theft and harassment. More have also attended the station for interviews, and a large number are now working alongside the Youth Offending Team to limit reoffending.
Furthermore, there are several youths who have signed Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, giving them certain conditions to adhere to when out and about.
Others have also been issued with Community Protection Notices to prevent further offending, and should they breach these notices, they will be summoned to appear at Court.
-
Priority:
Shoplifting - Tackling retail crime and dealing with repeat offenders.
Shoplifting remains one of the top priorities for the Newton Aycliffe Neighbourhood Team.
The town is home to many well known supermarkets and also smaller independent providers.
Action taken:
The Neighbourhood Team have ownership of all shoplifting offences within the locality and as such use a blend of both overt patrols to deter and offending and also plain clothed patrols to catch perpetrators in the act.
Through our excellent links with the town centre security and local businesses, we seek to apprehend suspects as soon as possible after any incident to ensure the recovery of stolen property, positive action through arrest and charging of suspects and upholding the confidence of local businesses.
A vital part of this work is via us attending the local Shopwatch meeting, gathering intelligence from our shopkeepers, and sharing any necessary information with them.
In addition to this, we work alongside the Courts and the Probation service to deter future offending through the use of Civil Orders which provide us with additional powers to remove persons from an area based on previous offending history.
The team are regularly out and about in the town centre, and also other places which have been identified as shoplifting hotspots and will continue to do so.
More recently at the beginning of May 2026, two prolific shoplifters have been arrested on numerous occasions following several thefts in and around the town centre area, with one receiving a suspended sentence from the Magistrates Court.
-
Priority:
Drug Use and Supply of Controlled Drugs. We see first hand the impact of illegal drugs within our community and how it links with the exploitation of those who are most vulnerable.
Action taken:
We see first-hand the impact of illegal drugs within our community and how it links with the exploitation of those who are most vulnerable.
The team have a zero-tolerance stance on the supply of controlled drugs and since July 2025 have made multiple arrests for the offence of possession with intent to supply.
This has led to taking drugs off the streets, disrupting the drug supply line, placing supportive intervention measures to help users navigate away from using drugs and reduce drug related crimes such as shoplifting and other acquisitive crime.
This is and will always continue to be a priority for the team moving forward.
With the help of community intelligence and working with our colleagues regionally, we have delivered several strike days whereby warrants have been executed with excellent results.