The centre which is based in Newcastle’s West End was set up in 2016
A national policing report has highlighted the North East Safetyworks! centre for its positive work on teaching personal safety.
The annual State of Policing report, compiled by Sir Tom Windsor, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of policing in England and Wales.
The centre, based in Newcastle’s West End, was set up in 2016 and is managed by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, working in partnership with Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Northumbria Police, Nexus, St John’s Ambulance and Sainsbury’s.
SafetyWorks! promotes safety through a range of interactive scenarios for young people and community groups. These include actions that keep people safe, such as installing smoke alarms and dealing with bogus callers.
They also include activities designed to deter children from littering, committing anti-social behaviour, trespassing on the railway and starting fires, and warning of the dangers around grooming. Lessons are delivered by Northumbria Police Community Support Officers and staff from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.
The report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) also commends Northumbria’s Onecall service, highlighting it as “a commendable achievement which should be adopted throughout the country”.
Onecall brings together Northumbria Police with adult social care and healthcare staff and children’s services teams.
More than 20 agencies are based in one building, meaning that anyone who is worried about the welfare of a child or adult can call one number and have their call dealt with by someone from the right agency.
Police and Crime Commissioner Dame Vera Baird QC said: “I’m delighted to see Safetyworks! in the national spotlight for its excellent work. The centre demonstrates a range of interactive safety activities, that will help protect those who visit the centre. The facilities have been very well received by our local visitors and the more people we reach out to with awareness and very important safety messages, the better.”
Northumbria Police’s Chief Constable Winton Keenen said: “Protecting those who are vulnerable is our absolute priority as a Force and that is why I am so pleased that both Safetyworks! and the Onecall partnerships have been praised as that is exactly what they are designed to do.
“They are an excellent example of just some of the many initiatives we support and carry out in Northumbria to protect the communities we serve.
“What they also represent is great partnership working and collaboration is key in helping us to deliver an even better service to those who need us.”
The report, published this week, brings together information from the inspections carried out across forces throughout the year.
For more information or to book a session at Safetyworks! visit http://www.safetyworks.org.uk/ or follow @safetyworksuk.
