DARLINGTON Police has claimed that reports of anti-social behaviour have reduced by nearly 15 per cent in the last year.

In 2021, Darlington Police recieved 3322 reports of anti-social behaviour in the town, compared with 3,878 in 2020.

This follows work carried out by police and Darlington Borough Council to identify hotspot areas and tackle repeat offenders.

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Officers from the neighbourhood policing team have worked closely with the council and private businesses to share intelligence on those causing the most harm to local communities and take appropriate action against them.

Specialist patrols are also regularly carried out in relation to anti-social off-road biking in areas such as Yarm Road and Parkside as part of Operation Endurance, Durham Constabulary’s ongoing crackdown on those who ride bikes and quads illegally.

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Inspector Dean Haythornthwaite, from Darlington Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Everyone has a right to feel safe in their own home, anti-social behaviour is not something that people should have to put up with.

“This type of behaviour affects the whole community, and it is not something that the police can solve on our own.

“We have strong working relationships with our partners at Darlington Borough Council, and we’ve had some really positive results as a result of our ongoing work with them.

“We work extremely hard to tackle anti-social behaviour in hotspots such as Yarm Road and Whinbush Way, which has involved identifying key offenders, sharing that information with partner agencies, and taking the appropriate action against them. This has resulted in reports of anti-social behaviour reducing in these areas.

“To continue tackling antisocial behaviour effectively and efficiently, we need the knowledge and support of everyone living within our communities. This also includes private businesses, voluntary organisations, and residents themselves – we must all work together as one team.

“If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour in your area, then please tell us. The more we know about anti-social behaviour, the more the police and our partners can do to help make your community safer.”

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Councillor Jonathan Dulston, deputy leader of Darlington Borough Council said: “The co-location of our Community Safety Team and the excellent partnership we have developed with Durham Police is an important part of our efforts to ensure Darlington is a safe place for all who live, work and visit the borough.

“Anti-social behaviour is something that will not be tolerated, and we will continue to work closely with police, local residents and others to make our communities safer and stronger.”

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