OPERATION EQUINOX:
TURNING THE TIDE OF ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
A major campaign to tackle criminal damage and anti-social behaviour gets underway in Redcar & Cleveland next week.
Neighbourhood Policing Teams will join forces with the Council’s Anti-social Behaviour Team and Community Protection Officers under the banner of the Safer Communities Partnership to tackle the increases in criminal damage and anti-social behaviour which traditionally take place during October and November.
Operation Equinox – which will run through to mid-November – has been welcomed by Police Authority Chair, Councillor Dave McLuckie as “bringing together education and diversionary activities for young people at the same time as making clear that, if necessary, we will take tough action against those who continue to misbehave.”
The main themes of the Operation are education, prevention, diversion and enforcement though the partners hope that through education and diversion, the need for enforcement will be reduced.
Equinox will also build on the achievements of the ongoing Operation Shepherd in which plain clothes officers have been out and about in the borough, mixing with offenders, tackling nuisance drinking, noisy gatherings of modified cars and general damage.
Incidents of bad behaviour have been logged – in some cases by using video and sound recording. The majority of offenders have been dealt with in a way which has kept them out of the criminal justice system although during peak periods of offending, the emphasis will change towards prosecution.
Says Cllr McLuckie, who is also Redcar & Cleveland Council’s Lead Member for Community Protection: “During the summer holidays, the Safer Communities Weeks of Action programmed organised for young people proved very successful and the police will be teaming up with partners for similar activities during the half term holiday.
“Wherever possible, our aim is to prevent young people falling foul of the criminal justice system, but at the same time we aim to make it clear that those who indulge in activities which cause problems for local communities can expect to face tough action including, if necessary, prosecutions and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.”
Neighbourhood Policing Chief Inspector Chris Sadler adds: “We have carried out Operations using plain clothes officers and this has given us a much clearer picture of what anti-social behaviour looks like in our borough.
“Many of the young people we’ve encountered are simply hanging around together, rather than causing a problem. There’s some evidence to suggest that there are occasions when complaints about young people are based on intolerance and misunderstanding and we need to change some people’s misconceptions of youth behaviour. However it is clear that there are significant problems with loutish behaviour which we are determined to address.
Chief Inspector Sadler continues: “We are not prepared to put up with anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. The message is simple – respond to the education and diversions which we are putting in place and be a valued member of society or face the consequences that offending brings.
“Young people are very vulnerable to being victims of crime themselves. Police are asking parents and carers to consider the risks that may be encountered by a young person when they are out on the streets without control and to ensure that they exercise an appropriate amount of guidance and discipline over people in their care.”
Nicola Ditchburn, Co-ordinator of the Local Authority’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team, adds: “During this campaign we aim to build on the achievements we have already made and hope to divert young people from entering the criminal justice system.”
“However, if necessary perpetrators of anti-social behaviour can expect a quick and effective response from us. If needed, we will seek prosecutions and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders to bring people into line.”
HALF TERM ALCOHOL CLAMPDOWN
A HUGE SUCCESS
Officers from Cleveland Police have confiscated around 250 litres of alcohol from youngsters over the half-term period following a major enforcement campaign in each of the four districts.
Three of the four districts in the force area (Redcar & Cleveland, Middlesbrough and Stockton) received an additional cash injection from the Home Office of between £3000 and £5000 each. This cash was secured on the basis that it was used only to fund additional officers and PCSO’s to target areas known to be frequented by young people drinking alcohol and causing crime and disorder problems.
Although Hartlepool did not receive the additional funding they too supported the campaign. PC Terry Swales of Hartlepool police said, “We work closely with Hartlepool Borough Council Licensing Unit and Trading Standards and continue to support Home Office initiatives by targeting irresponsible licensees, parents and adults, in a determined effort to reduce crime and disorder and anti-social behaviour.”
Neighbourhood police teams and district licensing officers targeted areas throughout the force area known to be plagued by young people drinking alcohol. Officers visited the hotspots on weekdays and weekends to ensure the clampdown was a success.
District Licensing Officer for Middlesbrough Paul Higgins said, “The majority of alcohol seized included Lambrini, cider, lager and cheap vodka. Most of the youngsters handed over the alcohol without any problem. In a small number of instances youths were given a direction to leave the area if they became aggressive - this is a new piece of legislation under the Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2006.”
Heading the operation in Stockton, Inspector Tony Rock added, “We have seized a lot of alcohol which would otherwise have been abused by these young people. When you look at the vast quantity of bottles we have collected it shows just how many these youngsters are managing to get hold of and I would appeal to parents to take stock of how their children are spending their money.”
Sgt Craig Green from Redcar and Cleveland licensing office added, “This campaign continues the momentum we gained from the Responsible Alcohol Sales Campaign over the Christmas period and worked in conjunction with Trading Standards Officers carrying out test purchase operations in our area using volunteers to attempt to purchase alcohol from off licenses.
“I would hope that the people and especially the youngsters involved in drinking on the streets of Redcar and Cleveland have got the message that the Police will pursue you, find you, confiscate your alcohol and dispose of it.”
Chief Constable Sean Price is delighted with the success of the campaign saying, “This is not a one off. We will continually address issues of alcohol and anti social behaviour through the successful delivery of neighbourhood policing.”
Chair of Cleveland Police Authority, Councillor Dave McLuckie, said the results from the confiscation campaign underlined the scale of the challenge posed by the ease with which young people were able to obtain alcohol.
Added Councillor McLuckie “Obviously our officers have been very effective in recovering large amounts of alcohol during this campaign, but of course this is not a problem which can be dealt with over a short period—or by the police alone.
“I hope that it will give further impetus to the efforts of all agencies involved in dealing with misuse of alcohol—and perhaps give parents a ‘wake up’ call about the need to ensure their children do not get involved in the kinds of alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder which is an all-too-common problem for the police—and for the communities affected.”
New Powers to Tackle Knife and Gun Crime
A range of tough new powers to tackle alcohol-fuelled disorder, knife and gun crime, including realistic imitation firearms and air weapons take effect on 1st October 2007. The new violent crime measures form part of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 and include:
· An offence to manufacture, import or sell realistic imitation guns;
· An offence to sell an imitation gun to a person aged under 18;
· An offence to modify an imitation gun to make it realistic or convertible into a real firearm.
· A doubling of the maximum sentence for carrying an imitation gun in public without reasonable excuse, from 6 to 12 months.
· Air weapons to be sold only by firearms dealers who are registered by police with all sales taking place face-to-face;
· Increasing the age limit for buying or possessing an air weapon from 17 to 18.
· An offence to sell, hire or make a gift of an air weapon to a person under the age of 18;
· An offence for any person to fire an air weapon beyond the boundary of any premises;
· An offence to sell a knife to a person aged under 18 (increased from 16).
· An offence to sell a crossbow to a person aged under 18 (increased from 16).
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: “The new measures ...... send the strong signal that weapons on our streets will not be tolerated. Tackling gun and knife crime is a top priority for this Government and it is essential that we build on the tools and powers that police already have in order to make people feel safer and more secure in their communities.
“We are determined to prevent young people obtaining knives by raising the age from 16 to 18. We are also determined to crack down on the criminals who use realistic imitation firearms to threaten and intimidate people.
“It is important to remember that the gun crime problem is concentrated in a few local areas which we recognise and on which we are focusing our efforts with the new Tackling Gangs Action Programme. These new powers are the latest example of how the Government is working to make all communities safer, putting the interests of law-abiding people at the heart of our crime prevention action plans.”
Imitation guns feature in a significant number of crimes, ranging from nuisance and intimidation to armed robbery. In 2005/06 there were 3,275 offences involving imitations, which accounted for about 15 per cent of all firearms offences in that period.
Although that figure has decreased to 2,493 offences in 2006/07, the Government remains determined to crack down on criminals who use realistic imitations to threaten and intimidate people.
Since 2000, young people aged 10 to 17 have accounted for one fifth of those who have been convicted of unlawfully carrying a knife. The new knife offence aims to further prevent young people getting hold of knives, by raising the age at which a knife can be purchased from 16 to 18. This sends a clear message that the Government expects knives only to be used for legitimate purposes by responsible adults.
Other measures also coming into force today include:
A new power for the police to apply for a fast track review of an alcohol premises’ licence if they feel it could be associated with serious crime or serious disorder, and a power for councils to step in and impose immediate extra conditions on the licence pending that review;
Authorised members of staff at attendance centres can search anyone they suspect of carrying a knife or other offensive weapon;
UNITED AGAINST DRINK AND DRUG DRIVING
Emergency services and road safety professionals across Cleveland are uniting to condemn anyone who drives under the influence of drink or drugs this festive season with the launch of the seasonal drink and drug drive campaign.
Head of Cleveland’s Road Policing Unit and Chair of Cleveland Casualty Reduction Group Inspector Eric Robinson said: “The emergency services see the aftermath of drink and drug driving all too often at the scenes of horrific crashes and we are united in urging drivers not to take the risk this Christmas.
“As well as the criminal penalties that a driver will receive in the form of a driving ban and a heavy fine, we in the emergency services see the misery and tragedy of death and injury caused by drink or drug driving.
“We work all year round to try to get the message across, but some drivers just seem to ignore our pleas. We all agree that drink and drug driving is absolute madness.”
Steve Walton from Cleveland Fire Brigade said: “We attend many crashes where drink or drugs have been a factor. With our partners, we try to highlight the dangers of driving under the influence of drink or drugs through our Learn and Live initiative. Even so, some people will just not listen. The outcome can be death or serious injuries, which in turn can devastate whole communities.”
Steve Roebuck, a Paramedic with the North East Ambulance Service, said: “Some of the injuries from drink drive collisions are horrendous. We see the misery and destruction to the human body first hand. Unfortunately, it’s very often the innocent victims who lose their lives. Without doubt drink and drug driving does ruin lives.”
Jan Woodward’s 19 year old daughter Kelly was killed when the vehicle she was in ran out of control in Billingham and crashed. The driver was found to be twice the drink drive limit and was sentenced to four and a half years in prison and banned from driving for 5 years.
Jan said: “If it weren’t for a drunk driver, my lovely daughter would still be alive today. She was too young to die. I would plead with people not to drink and drive so they don’t put people through what I’ve been through.”
The campaign will run throughout December and into the New Year and will include random stop checking of vehicles, breath testing any driver committing a traffic offence or involved in a collision and anyone suspected of drinking alcohol. Drug drivers will also be dealt with by means of roadside testing and blood tests.
Inspector Robinson said the partnership work would continue until everyone gets the message. He said: “Nothing will stop our commitment to reducing casualties and collectively we would urge drivers not to take the risk this Christmas.
“I would ask every driver to imagine how they would feel if they killed their best mate, girlfriend or a family member. Surely that is enough to deter anyone from drink or drug driving”.
DRIVE RECKLESSLY – DIE YOUNG WARNS TRAFFIC CHIEF
Young drivers who think they are kings of the road have a date - with death, warns Inspector Eric Robinson, Head of Cleveland’s Traffic Cops.
Despite an utter belief in their invincibility many will be killed or suffer serious injury simply because of the way they drive.
Inspector said: “We in the emergency services see at first hand the absolutely horrific consequences of crashes. Massive head injuries, loss of limbs and paralysis are all too common. And telling a parent that their young son or daughter has been killed is probably the worst job a police officer has to do.”
His emotional warning has come after a spate of fatal accidents. So far this year 11 people have been killed on the roads in Cleveland – and the majority are only teenagers, with their lives ahead of them.
“They had everything to live for, but sadly, their lives were cut short in the most brutal and tragic circumstances.
“The sad thing is that so many young people think they can drive at whatever speed they like, wherever they like and that no matter how recklessly they drive, no harm will come to them. The latest collision figures tell a different story.”
Inspector Robinson said the present vogue is to buy a small hatchback, modify it as much as possible then drive as fast as possible – with no consideration for anyone else.
“We know that their cars are their pride and joy yet some people are intent on driving like idiots under the illusion that people will actually be impressed by their stupid actions. These drivers are not invincible. They are one step away from death.
“They are inexperienced and have no idea what to do if they lose control. Too often they hit fences, trees, walls and other vehicles. They – or some innocent party – end up being killed or injured and it is a terrible waste of a precious life.”
“I want all motorists, but particularly the young and inexperienced drivers, to think of the consequences of irresponsible driving and the way their lives can be cut short in the most brutal and tragic circumstances.”
Inspector Robinson, who chairs the Cleveland Casualty Reduction Group, said a lot of good work is done by may agencies to get the safety message across.
“Our partnership with Cleveland Fire Brigade is excellent. We work closely with them to deliver the “Learn and Live” presentation to young drivers and drivers of the future. Yet we have had fatalities involving young drivers who have seen the presentations. It’s very difficult to know where to go next if these youngsters don’t listen.”
He added that the only way deaths and injuries will stop will be when young drivers start accepting responsibility for their actions.
“There are many laws that can be used against drivers. I was hoping common sense would prevail, but some, particularly the criminal fraternity, will never listen. They will continue to steal cars, drive dangerously and put lives at risk.
“The majority of young drivers are ‘good kids’ with everything to live for. They need to see sense before it is too late.
“I would much rather we see an improvement in driving standards and for young people to realise they are not invincible. They are flesh and blood, extremely vulnerable and one mistake away from death.
“It sounds harsh but the reality is deaths on the road are brutal – and people need to be told how it really is.”