Cramlington Town Council calls for a second community police team amid rising ASB

Cramlington Town Council has appealed to the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Northumbria, Susan Dungworth, and to Emma Foody, MP for Cramlington, for their support with efforts to combat a rising tide of youth anti-social behaviour affecting Cramlington. Recent data for Cramlington shows Youth related incidents are up from the previous 3 years in Cramlington with all crime showing higher at any point than in the last 4 years in November.

These statistics contrast with the PCC’s own report suggesting ASB has had a “22% fall across the force” compared to last year’s figures, showing disregard to the growing crime levels away from the metropolitan centres.

Over recent weeks there has been a worrying escalation in vandalism and serious incidents involving young people, culminating in an attack on Beaconhill Community Centre. Last Thursday evening police were called to the centre after a group of youths entered the building while a karate class was taking place and caused significant disruption. Police attendance was escalated following suspicions that one of the youths was carrying a weapon. Many incidents such as these go unreported, partly due to fear of recrimination but also because of a lack of trust in the 101 system, with callers frequently giving up when calls are not answered. While the Commissioner may state that “93% of 999 calls are now answered within 10 seconds”, there is no reference to 101 calls, which the public are routinely directed to use when reporting so-called low-level crime.

The situation has been made worse by a staffing crisis affecting the Cramlington neighbourhood policing team which has been hit by illness and resignations. This means that the second largest town in Northumberland now has a complement of 5 officers providing for only 4 shifts over a 7-day period.  Unfortunately, calls for a second neighbourhood team for Cramlington appear to have been ignored by the PCC and the higher echelons of Northumbria Police. In an effort to provide higher levels of cover, Cramlington Town Council funded overtime for additional patrols, highlighting the need for additional officers. This has had limited success and is hampered by the current staffing situation. The Police also have limited powers when dealing with young offenders and are hindered by the reluctance of the youth justice system to prosecute and criminalise young offenders. The result is that there are often no consequences for young offenders and many walk away with impunity. For some arrest itself is regarded as a badge of honour.

Town Council Leader, Wayne Daley, has led calls for action to address the situation. He said:

“Cramlington is perceived as a low crime area, but we have real problems which cannot be ignored. It is simply unacceptable that a town of 35,000 people is protected by just one neighbourhood team. I want the PCC to wake up to what is happening in towns like Cramlington and to put her weight behind our calls for more resources. This takes nothing away from the officers currently serving the town, but there are too few, and their hands are tied by the powers available to them. I don’t want to criminalise any young person but in some cases it’s the only way.

Working with key partners the Town Council has devoted much time and money to provide activities for local young people including youth clubs and the new youth zone at the Cramlington Voluntary Youth Project (CVYP). The vast majority of young people are great, but we have a hardcore of alienated youths for whom anti-social behaviour is somehow seen as acceptable. It is these young people and their families on whom we must focus our efforts.

I must also appeal to anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour to report it to the Police as it’s happening and not wait until the next day”

The Police and Crime Commissioner has declined an invitation to meet with the Town Council to discuss issues in Cramlington.