DURHAM'S Police and Crime Commissioner has set out how the emergency services in Newton Aycliffe are tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) after the town was branded a ‘no go zone’ by concerned residents and victims of low-level criminality earlier this week.
As part of the complaints, The Northern Echo is running a special report to analyse all aspects of the anti-social behaviour and speak to residents, councillors, neighbourhood policing teams and the police and crime commissioner in Durham to investigate whether the issue is manageable for agencies, or whether it is having a detrimental impact on Newton Aycliffe.
After being contacted by residents, including concerned mother of one, Rachel Caulkin, who has witnessed nightly vandalism, youths fighting with crowbars and groups smashing windows.
Read more: SPECIAL REPORT: Aycliffe branded a 'no go zone' over anti-social behaviour
In one shocking moment, the Newton Aycliffe mum, who only moved to the town last September, was targeted by vandals, who threw ‘items’ at her three-year-old son.
She said: “If I had known the level of anti-social behaviour there was around Newton Aycliffe, I’d have never moved here. It’s constant.
“Me and my family have been targeted, my neighbours have had their cars smashed and young kids throw rocks at cars from the bridge nearby – it’s sometimes a war zone.”
Despite the harrowing accounts collected so far, Police and Crime Commissioner for County Durham and Darlington, Joy Allen, has attempted to reassure residents that have to deal with the anti-social behaviour.
This has included investing in a new Antisocial Behaviour Champion – which she hopes will “give a voice” to those in Newton Aycliffe who are persistent victims of crime, as well as continuing to secure Criminal Behaviour Order’s (CBO) for those persistent offenders.
She said: “As Police and Crime Commissioner, I take the issue of antisocial behaviour very seriously. I have spoken to many residents whose lives have been blighted by ASB and I am determined to make a difference in the way they want.
Read more: Aycliffe mum documents 'months of hell' at hands of terrorising youths
“This is why I recently created a new Antisocial Behaviour Champion post to give local victims of ASB a bigger voice and increase the depth of understanding we have of their experiences.
“I know that victims of ASB want visible and swift justice. My Antisocial Behaviour Champion is spearheading multiagency action to tackle persistent ASB and ensure all victims of ASB receive the redress and support they deserve."
Ms Allen added: “We are also working with the neighbourhood policing team and local councillors to develop a local problem-solving approach that involves the local community at every opportunity.
“In support of this collaborative approach, I am in the process of devolving funding to the neighbourhood level to ensure problems can be tackled by the professionals working on the ground and those who know the victims and the perpetrators best as well as the communities themselves.”
Alongside the work of the police and crime commissioner, Durham Police has also worked within Newton Aycliffe to try and stamp out anti-social behaviour.
Updating residents on social media earlier this month, Newton Aycliffe Police said: “Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) remains a priority for the Neighbourhood team, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed that there has been a significant rise of it in the town centre.
Read more: Newton Aycliffe Mayor defends town over claims that its a 'no go zone'
“This may be due to a number of factors, but sometimes occurs when action is taken in other areas displacing those causing the issues. We have seen reductions in ASB in every area across the town, apart from the Town Centre area, year to date Newton Aycliffe has seen a 15 per cent reduction.
“The Neighbourhood Team have been working very hard with the County Councillors of Newton Aycliffe and Livin to obtain funding for rapid deployment CCTV cameras on the back of a successful trial in the Western Area.”
What are the police doing to curb the spike in ASB cases in Newton Aycliffe?
Ongoing: Officers from the neighbourhood policing unit have executed a Magistrates Search warrant for drugs at an address in Guthrum Place in the last week and consequently a substantial number of drugs were seized and two people arrested.
Sunday, January 30: A male youth was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after windows were smashed on a vehicle in Bell Walk. A further suspect is still outstanding and enquires are ongoing.
Tuesday, February 1: Some of the Neighbourhood Team were in Byerley Park Primary School to deliver presentations on ASB, Crime and Consequences, Bullying and Online Safety. This is part of its commitment to attend all ten primary schools in Newton Aycliffe.
Read more: Damage on Newton Aycliffe's war memorial blamed on 'mindless vandals'
Wednesday, February 2: PCSO’s Kipling & Middleton visited the House of Eden Nursery on Stephenson Way, where the children have been learning about the Police.
Friday, February 4: The team were successful in applying another Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) in relation to a 14-year-old male, who has been involved in Anti-Social Behaviour across the town. The order prevents the individual from entering certain areas of Newton Aycliffe and associating with other known offenders.
Residents can report all instances of anti-social behaviour to 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and sign up to www.keepintheknow.co.uk/content/pages/sign-up, for updates on Newton Aycliffe.
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