Towns and villages safer as more officers put on the beat

We’re continuing to drive down anti-social behaviour by putting more neighbourhood officers in towns and villages across County Durham and Darlington.

 

Communities have told us they want to see a more visible police presence on the streets and now we're able to implement that.

 

Areas that have been hit the hardest by anti-social behaviour are being watched and those who commit anti-social behaviour are too.

 

In Chester-Le-Street, they have been clamping down on vehicles with no insurance and stolen motorbikes, an issue local people have raised with officers.

 

Whilst out on joint patrol recently with colleagues from our bike section, officers spotted a rider driving anti-socially, they pursued the vehicle after it failed to stop when alerted to do so, the rider was stopped in Birtley and the off-road bike was seized.

 

The rider now faces prosecution for seven offences!

 

Officers are also working with local supermarkets after seeing a rise in shoplifting and sharing images of familiar faces so that they know who to look out for.

 

In Fencehouses, they’re pursuing abandoned vehicles that have been reported in by local residents.

 

They spotted a van in the area and after carrying out checks, they discovered it had no insurance, no MOT, no tax, and no registered keeper, it was later seized after it was suspected to have been used in crime.

 

Officers will continue to target those who use vehicles illegally in our communities right across the force area.

 

In Darlington and Bishop Auckland, they’re focused on hotspot areas and providing a rapid response when reports of anti-social behaviour are called in.

 

Operation Trailblazer is an ongoing programme and our beats are not stopping there. They’re keen to hear from people who are experiencing ASB so that we can tackle the problem head on.

 

We can and we will do more.