Town Centre, Neville, Simpasture and Business Park

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.