Operation Trailblazer patrols sees anti-social behaviour reduce in Darlington

We’re seeing significant progress in the reduction of antisocial behaviour in our communities across County Durham and Darlington through Operation Trailblazer.

 

The Home Office funded initiative has allowed us to target areas that have been hit the hardest, with dedicated antisocial behaviour patrols being carried out across the force area every day.

 

We joined PCSO Dean Flinn, who has been with the force for three years, on one of his patrols in Darlington yesterday afternoon…

 

To start his patrols, PCSO Flinn takes us into the centre of Darlington, just around the corner from his base, on Gladstone Street, which also houses staff from Darlington Borough Council.

 

As we headed into the Northgate underpass, PCSO Flinn proudly tells us how he had spotted a man in the town earlier that morning who was wanted for a number of weeks after failing to appear at court for criminal damage offences.

 

PCSO Flinn detained him until officers arrived to make the arrest. He was whisked away in a van, leaving Dean to carry on with his patrols.

 

We wander out from the underpass and headed to Boots after they had reported two shoplifting incidents earlier that morning. The manager leads us into the back so that we could review the CCTV footage.

 

“Dedicated patrols give us the time to investigate shoplifting thoroughly and provides reassurance to shop owners that we take it seriously and we will do everything we can to get those responsible prosecuted,” says Dean.

 

“No matter what has been stolen or its value, we will carry out a full investigation, we just need shop owners to work with us and ensure they report each and every incident.”

 

As we leave the shop, we wander onto a busy Northgate which is flooded with shoppers and people going about their daily business. We wander down the street when a quick-thinking member of staff runs out of a shop towards Dean and shouts in a fluster: “A man in a green hoodie has just stolen a handful of products and ran off, he’s gone up there, be quick!”

 

Dean immediately picks up his radio and asks the council’s CCTV team to keep eyes on the man and feedback his movements.

 

The team tracks the man as he runs onto Post House Wynd where he ditches his bright green hoodie and the suspected stolen items in an attempt to get away before running into a barber shop around the corner to hide.

 

Finally, the suspect was trapped. We head to the shop where we met with Dean’s colleague, PCSO Sarah Smith who had heard the commotion on the radio.

 

The man is very agitated, but Dean and Sarah manage to contain him in the doorway so that he’s unable to escape.

 

The man hurls abuse at both Sarah and Dean – something they’re both accustomed too - until further officers arrive and arrest the 18-year-old on suspicion of shoplifting and criminal damage.

 

Now that the suspect is in cuffs and on his way to custody, we head back to the store to carry out a welfare check, as well as obtain CCTV footage and further information while Sarah tracks down the hoodie and stolen property.

 

After grabbing what we need, we head back to the station where Dean begins writing a witness statement and uploads his bodycam footage of the arrest to the system.

 

We submit the footage and grab a shop theft reporting pack which needs to be delivered to the victims. The pack is designed to make it easier for retailers to write their witness statement, speeding up the court process and saving them time.

 

Whilst in town dropping off the pack, PCSO Flinn is stopped by a number of locals - he’s a familiar face in the town, having only ever been posted there.

One lady stops to tell him how two teenagers were riding dangerously on their bikes around the town. “I think I have an idea who they are,” he says, and heads off to find them.

 

Just a few minutes later and he’s caught up with them. He chats with them, making them feel comfortable and at ease before explaining about the dangers of riding on footpaths at busy times of the day. “We always engage with youngsters and try to have a bit of banter. We know how to communicate with them and build that rapport so they are happy to approach us,” he says.

 

We then spot a beggar close by who PCSO Flinn said he had spotted in a public space protection order (PSPO) zone earlier that morning. As we wander over to the man, he quickly picks up his belongings and tries to walk off, before being told he’s in breach of the PSPO in place and fined £100 as a result.

 

Back at the station and it’s time to grab a cuppa while PCSO Flinn logs back on and wraps up some more of his paperwork from the earlier shoplifting offence.

The rest of his day is spent by the computer, uploading evidence and relevant information to help get the suspect charged and off to court.

 

Operation Trailblazer is operating across the county, in areas identified by you – the residents of County Durham and Darlington - as the worst for offending.

So far Dean and his colleagues have conducted more than 8,000 extra hours of police patrols. These hi-vis patrols are in addition to the day-to-day carried out by neighbourhood teams.

 

Superintendent Neal Bickford, Durham Constabulary’s lead for antisocial behaviour, says: “We are seeing significant progress in the reduction of antisocial behaviour in our communities through Operation Trailblazer, thanks to investment from the Home Office, which has allowed us to target areas that have been hit the hardest.

 

“Operation Trailblazer is an ongoing programme, and we are keen for people to continue to report anti-social behaviour so that we can provide rapid support to residents when needed.

 

“If you’re suffering from anti-social behaviour where you live, or have intelligence of those who commit this type of activity, let us know.

 

“We can and we will do more.”