High-visibility hotspot patrols lead to more than 150 arrests

Thousands of hours of high-visibility patrols have been carried out across County Durham and Darlington as part of an initiative to tackle violent crime and antisocial behaviour.

The Hotspot Action Fund is a Home Office-funded initiative aimed at tackling serious violence, knife crime, and antisocial behaviour in the communities most affected in our area.

Around £1million of funding was allocated to County Durham and Darlington, following an application from Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, to support high-visibility patrols and problem-oriented policing to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.

A total of 15 hotspot areas were identified, allowing officers and partners to carry out extra patrols in these areas where serious violence and antisocial behaviour are most likely to occur, creating safer spaces for residents and communities.

They include Darlington, Newton Aycliffe, Consett, Stanley, Seaham, and Peterlee town centres, Newgate Street in Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street Front Street, the numbered streets in Horden, and Durham city centre.

Between April and September, a total of 9,096 hours of extra police patrols were carried out in these areas, alongside 1,471 hours of patrols by neighbourhood wardens at Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council.

The additional patrols led to 151 arrests, 58 stop and searches, 40 illegal vehicles seized, and seven weapons seized. In Darlington and Durham, officers also enforced Public Space Protection Orders a total of 121 times.

Superintendent Neal Bickford, head of neighbourhood policing at Durham Constabulary, said: “This additional funding has enabled us to provide dedicated resources in the areas of County Durham and Darlington that are most affected by violent crime and antisocial behaviour.

“Preventing crime before it happens and having the resources to target it where we know it’s happening is a crucial part of keeping our communities safe.

“These extra patrols have allowed our officers to really get to know their communities and are able to take swift and decisive action when incidents have occurred.

“We are seeing results, and these officers are making a real difference in our communities.”

County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: "Residents repeatedly tell me that visible and accessible policing is a high priority for them. This is why it is a key priority for me, as can be seen throughout my Police, Crime and Justice Plan. It is also a vital way of building trust and confidence.   

“There is overwhelming support among victims, residents, and businesses for these extra patrols, with communities really appreciating extra boots on the ground to tackle the issues that bring them misery. We've also gained national recognition for innovatively involving volunteer cadets in the delivery of the scheme, becoming the first force in the country to do so. 

"As the figures clearly show, hotspot patrols are helping to bring offenders and perpetrators to justice quickly and disrupting offending before it has an opportunity to escalate and cause more harm. The patrols send a clear message that criminality and nuisance behaviour will not be tolerated in County Durham and Darlington. This is very much a partnership effort, and we continuing to explore other areas we can collaborate to make our communities stronger, safer and more resilient."

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