A multi-agency operation aiming to crack down on anti-social behaviour in North Tyneside is set to begin as warmer weather approaches.
Operation Early Bird will see an increase in high-visibility police patrols in the North Shields and Whitley Bay areas to tackle any emerging issues ahead of the summer season.
Partners at the Council’s Community Protection Team and staff from Nexus who combat crime and ASB on the Metro network will also be part of the operation.
Joint patrols will see police and council staff riding the coastal section of the Metro while also patrolling key ASB hotspots. Officers will also be gathering and sharing cross-agency intelligence on those believed to be taking part in criminality or disorder.
The aim of the initiative is to keep North Tyneside the welcoming and vibrant place it is to live, work and visit.
The work is taking place ahead of Operation Coastwatch, which runs throughout late spring and the summer months in North Tyneside so that residents and visitors can enjoy trouble-free evenings, with partners taking swift action to prevent incidents of disorder during any forecasted warm weather.
Since Operation Coastwatch was implemented, there has been a significant drop in the rate of anti-social behaviour incidents in North Tyneside since recording began more than a decade ago. Figures show that crime fell by 14 per cent in the Whitley Bay area when comparing summer 2024 to the same period in 2023, while ASB in North Tyneside overall has dropped by seven per cent in the past year.
Chief Inspector David Morrison, of Northumbria Police’s North Tyneside Area Command, said: “We understand the concerns residents and businesses have around anti-social behaviour and disorder and would like to reassure them that we are fully committed to tackling these issues head on. Activity of this nature will not be tolerated.
“Through Op Early Bird and alongside our partner organisations, we’re increasing visible patrols in North Tyneside in the coming weeks as the lighter evenings arrive and we get closer to Operation Coastwatch, identifying any criminality and those responsible in the process.
“As ever, we would ask parents and carers to engage with us and speak to your children about where they are heading and emphasise the seriousness of potentially getting involved in ASB and disorder.
“If you have concerns about ASB in your area, please approach an officer on duty or contact us online or via phone so that we can build on our existing intelligence picture and take the appropriate action.
“Together, we can keep our community the brilliant place it is.”
Toby Hartigan-Brown, Head of Housing Management at North Tyneside Council, said: “We know that anti-social behaviour can have a real impact on our communities, and we are committed to working with our partners to prevent it.
“By increasing patrols and taking a proactive approach ahead of the summer months, we’re ensuring that residents and visitors can continue to enjoy North Tyneside’s fantastic coastal areas and town centres safely and without disruption.
“Our Community Protection Team will again be working closely with the police and Nexus to identify and tackle any emerging issues early, sending a clear message that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in North Tyneside.”
Erika Allen, Quality, Health, Safety, Security and Environment Director at Nexus, said: “Whitley Bay and North Shields are major gateways into North Tyneside and we want people to come and enjoy it, but we don’t want a minority of troublemakers to spoil it for everyone.
“We’re working closely with the police and our local authority partners to ensure Metro is safe for our customers and that any anti-social behaviour is dealt with quickly.
“This builds on the work we have already done to improve safety and security across the Metro system, including the roll out of our dedicated security teams, investment in new CCTV, and the launch of our new text message alert system to allow customers to contact the Metro control room more easily and confidentially.
“Our message remains the same: anyone who thinks about causing trouble on Metro will be caught and face prosecution.”
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “I live on the coast myself, and like other residents and visitors to the area, I welcome the better weather when it arrives, so we can enjoy living where we do.
“We all know sunny days on the beach can sometimes lead to big groups gathering or pockets of anti-social behaviour so it’s important there are plans in place to help keep the summer months trouble free.
“People in North Tyneside want to see more officers out on patrol acting as a deterrent and engaging with those causing bother. Operation Early Bird is putting this in action – it’s about getting ahead of the game policing our seafronts and public transport to help deliver safer streets and stronger communities.”
To report anti-social behaviour, send Northumbria Police a direct message on social media or use the live chat and report forms on the Force website.
For those unable to contact police via those ways, call 101.
In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always ring 999.