New projects to tackle ASB after extra £1.5m investment

Newcastle City Council has launched its Better Lives, Safer Communities programme which will see residents benefit from a wide range of schemes to reduce crime and create safer neighbourhoods.

Community projects will be implemented across the city to help the Council build closer relationships with residents, learn more about their concerns and together develop plans to address disorderly behaviour.

Plans are being drawn up for the Neighbourhood and City Centre Task Force, which operates on Friday and Saturday evenings alongside Northumbria Police and NE1, to be deployed across the city when the clocks go back and the nights draw in.

And a recruitment drive is under way for new neighbourhood wardens who will patrol and target anti-social behaviour hotspots.

The money will also be used to expand the Council’s in-house victim’s service to provide additional support to medium and high risk anti-social behaviour victims, while more funding will be allocated towards the removal of graffiti in the city.

A core part of the programme is to provide training and work opportunities for young people through mentored apprenticeships and to increase investment in youth activities across the city.

The extra £1.5m was invested by the Council in response to listening to residents’ concerns about the impact anti-social behaviour was having in their communities.

Cllr Lesley Storey, Newcastle City Council Cabinet member for a Vibrant City, said: “Tackling anti-social behaviour is one of the Council’s top priorities as we know it can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, as well as on local businesses.

“Victims are at the heart of everything we do and having listened very carefully to residents’ views, we developed this programme so we can engage more with our communities, provide further support to victims and have more officers on the streets to tackle disorderly behaviour.

“The investment will also help ensure we continue to have safe, cohesive neighbourhoods and communities by enabling our officers to work closely with partners to address the root causes of issues.

“We want Newcastle to be an attractive, modern and vibrant city which everyone can enjoy and feel safe in, and that is what these plans are all about.”

Anyone affected by anti-social behaviour is asked to report it by calling 101 or via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of Northumbria Police’s website.

In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always ring 999. To report a problem about noise to the Council, visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/services/environment-and-waste/environmental-health-and-pollution/noise/noise-nuisance.