Northumbria Police have today invited residents in Newcastle to a one-of-a-kind house warming party – after officers moved into an unoccupied bungalow in a crackdown on anti-social behaviour.
The initiative is the first of its kind in the region and is being run in partnership with Newcastle City Council and Your Homes Newcastle to increase police presence in part of the city.
It will see police moving into an unoccupied bungalow on Deepdale Green in Cowgate to work with the community to address anti-social behaviour in the area.
Officers from the local neighbourhood team will use the bungalow as a pop-up police office where the public will be invited to stop by and chat about any concerns they may have.
It will open for the first time today and Neighbourhood Sergeant Graham Yare has said all of the local community are invited to their house warming party.
He said: "We regularly meet with our colleagues at Newcastle City Council and Your Homes Newcastle about how we can improve the lives of residents.
"Anti-social behaviour is a problem in many of our communities and we are always looking at new ways we can work together as partners to reduce incidents and identify those responsible.
"We had experienced a large number of calls from residents on this particular street who raised a number of concerns about criminal activity in their neighbourhood.
"By turning this address into a pop-up police house, we hope to act as a deterrent for inappropriate behaviour while putting neighbourhood policing at the heart of the community.
"I want to thank the local authority and Your Homes Newcastle for their support with this new project and I hope that it has an impact in this area.
"If you live in Cowgate then we want you to know our door is always open and we want to hear your ideas about how we can improve the lives of local residents."
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird QC, said: “We remain focused on tackling ASB and I welcome all initiatives that help tackle this issue.
“I would urge anyone suffering from anti-social behaviour is to report it - Northumbria Police will do everything they can to help”
Matthew Foreman, Customer Service Director at Your Homes Newcastle, said: “It is hugely important to us that the communities in which we have homes are safe, enjoyable places to live for everyone.
“We pride ourselves on working closely with partners including the police to tackle anti-social behaviour quickly and effectively when it arises.
“This innovative project will provide a positive reassurance and presence in the local community.”
Christine Herriot, Director of Operation and Regulatory Services at Newcastle City Council said: “This is a fantastic initiative which should provide residents with some much-needed reassurance right where it matters, with an increased presence around people’s homes.
“Anti-social behaviour and other criminal activity is a blight on people’s lives and we are keen to support Northumbria Police and Your Homes Newcastle with this pilot to tackle the issues in Cowgate.
“We want people to be able to share their concerns and they will now be able to do that within their community while the pop-up police office should also deter much of the antisocial behaviour that is causing the problems.”
The pop-up police office will display it's opening hours on a board outside the address on Deepdale Green but officers will be operating an open door policy.
Anyone can visit the address but you can also report incidents to police by calling 101 or reporting it online at www.northumbria.police.uk.
PICTURED (L to R): Helen Rowley of Your Homes Newcastle, Mehrban Sadiq of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, Darin Maudlin of Newcastle City Council and Neighbourhood Sergeant Graham Yare
