Crimestoppers is a charity that operates across the UK to help fight crime.

Built on the basis of a partnership between the police, the community and media, Crimestoppers is an invaluable service that enables anyone with details of criminal activity to pass them on to the police anonymously, without fear of exposure or retribution.
Rewards
Rewards are available for callers who provide information leading to the arrest and charge of an offender.
These rewards are funded by the Crimestoppers Trust, who are an independent registered charity.
Report it
If you wish to provide information anonymously, you can visit the Crimestoppers web page and use the Secure Contact Form or call the Crimestoppers telephone number 0800 555 111 at any time of the day or night, 365 days of the year.

Dangerous driving

The offence of dangerous driving under section 2 of the RTA 1988 is committed when a person's standard of driving falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver and it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving in that way would be dangerous.

Dangerous driving is an either way offence carrying a level 5 fine and/or 6 months' custody in the magistrates' court.

In the Crown Court, the maximum penalty is 2 years' imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

Careless driving

The offence of driving without due care and attention (careless driving) under section 3 of the RTA 1988 is committed when the defendant's driving falls below the standard expected of a competent and careful driver - section 3ZA(2) of the RTA 1988.

The maximum penalty is a level 5 fine. The court must also either endorse the driver's licence with between 3 and 9 penalty points (unless there are "special reasons" not to do so), or impose disqualification for a fixed period and/or until a driving test has been passed.

Not if you don’t want them to. We treat all of the information that you provide in the strictest of confidence. If we do need to get in touch for any reason we will be extremely discreet.

We ask everyone providing information to also give their name and contact details, but this is your decision. By providing your contact details this will help us verify the authenticity of the information and support you as quickly as possible if we need to.

If you’d prefer to give information anonymously, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

That’s OK. If you have a genuine concern about something you’ve seen or heard, we’d much rather you tell us than keep it to yourself. That way, our specially trained officers can look into it. If it turns out to be nothing, that’s good news.

Does your partner ever:

• Threaten to hurt or kill you?
• Destroy things that belong to you?
• Stand over you, invade your personal space?
• Threaten to kill themselves or the children?
• Read your emails, texts or letters?
• Harass or follow you?

The person abusing you may hurt you in a number of ways.

Does your partner ever:

• Slap, hit or punch you?
• Push or shove you?
• Bite or kick you?
• Burn you?
• Choke you or hold you down?
• Throw things?

Sexual abuse can happen to anyone.

Does your partner ever:

• touch you in a way you do not want to be touched?
• make unwanted sexual demands?
• hurt you during sex?
• pressure you to have unsafe sex – for example, not using a condom?
• pressure you to have sex?

Does your partner ever:

• Restrict your money
• Use your bank cards/credit card without your permission
• Take out finance agreements in your name (ie: phone contract)
• Gamble with family money

Does your partner ever:

• belittle you, or put you down?
• blame you for the abuse or arguments?
• deny that abuse is happening, or downplay it?
• isolate you from your family and friends?
• stop you going to college or work?
• make unreasonable demands for your attention?
• accuse you of flirting or having affairs?
• tell you what to wear, who to see, where to go, and what to think?
• control your money, or not give you enough to buy food or other essential things?
• monitor your social media profiles, share photos or videos of you without your consent or use GPS locators to know where you are?

If you or someone else are in immediate danger or there is a threat to your life please call 999 as soon as possible.

If you dial 999 and are unable to speak, the emergency operator will ask you to dial 55 and follow their instructions to quickly put you in touch with police.

If there is no incident happening now and you are not in any immediate danger, you can contact the police by calling 101.

Or use our online reporting form 

• An officer will speak to you to take a few details, explain to you the support available and talk about a safety plan to keep you safe. With your consent we can refer you to support agencies to ensure you are supported during our investigation.
• An officer will then be assigned to your case and will guide you through our investigation.
• When reporting domestic abuse you will be asked a number of questions relating to the incident. We will ask you to explain what has happened, when it happened and if there is any evidence that can help our investigation.
• Officers will look at all possible lines of enquiry and carry out an investigation to try and identify the offender or offenders and bring them to justice.

Our priority is your safety, we will seek to take positive action where appropriate and deal with offenders through the courts where possible.

We'll update you and support will be available throughout our investigation. 

The majority of police officers, staff and volunteers are hardworking, professional and deliver an excellent service. However, some are sadly still capable of falling below the high standards set by the force. We have a responsibility to prevent domestic abuse, protect against the risks of having domestic abuse perpetrators in police roles, and to protect all sections of the community from it.

Some victims of domestic abuse at the hands of police officers, staff and volunteers may find it more difficult to report given the unique nature of it and position of the abuser. Northumbria Police will not tolerate its employees perpetrating abuse of any form and will ensure reports of domestic abuse will be investigated thoroughly, with impartiality and confidentiality, and appropriate support provided regardless of the position of the perpetrator. The position of the perpetrator should not be a barrier to reporting. Any allegation that a police workforce member has used their police status, knowledge and powers to deter a victim from reporting, to harm or discredit them or to undermine a police investigation will be treated with utmost seriousness.

The behaviour of one person towards another is domestic abuse if:

• Both persons are aged 16yrs or over
• They are personally connected to each other
• The behaviour is abusive

We define people who are ‘personally connected’ as: intimate partners, ex-partners, family members or individuals who share parental responsibility for a child. There is no requirement for the victim and perpetrator to live in the same household.

Abusive behaviour includes:

• Physical or sexual abuse
• Violent or threatening
• Controlling or coercive behaviour
• Economic abuse
• Psychological, emotional or other abuse

If you are concerned you or someone you know might be a victim of police perpetrated domestic abuse please speak to our Professional Standards Department:

• Click here to use our online complaints form
• By email: professionalstandards@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
• By post: Professional Standards Department, Newcastle City Centre Police Station, Forth Banks, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3PH
• In person at any police station with a front office

Or you can complain to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)

• Click here to use the online complaint form
• By post to the IOPC: PO Box 473, Sale, M33 0BW
• By email to the IOPC: enquiries@policeconduct.gov.uk

Confidential Reporting Number
Police Integrity Line
Tel: 0800 111 4444
northumbria-confidential-hotline@northumbria.pnn.police.uk

If you live in Northumberland and want to speak to someone independent to the police. Here's a list of support agencies that can help. 

DASSN –Domestic Abuse Support Service Northumberland 01670 820199 Visit: livingplus.placesforpeople.co.uk/DASSN

NDAS – Northumberland Domestic Abuse Service 01434 608030  Visit: www.nda.services

Cygnus Support (mental health & emotional wellbeing) 01670 853977 Visit: cygnussupport.com

Grace (Northumberland Rape Crisis) 0800 0352794 Visit: gracenrc.org.uk

Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Rape & Sexual Assault Counselling (REACH)  03333 448283 Visit: reachsarc.org.uk

Northumbria Victim & Witness Service (NVWS) 0800 011 3116 NVWS@northumbria.police.uk

The Forced Marriage Protection Unit support and advice for victims of forced marriage 020 7008 0151 fmu@fco.gov.uk

The Angelou Centre (BAME women and children, women with no recourse to public funds) 0191 2260394  Visit: angelou-centre.org.uk

The Halo Project (Honour Based Abuse/Forced Marriage) 01642 683 045 Visit: haloproject.org.uk

Community Counselling Co-operative - Supporting male victims of domestic violence in Northumbria 07549 698 050 or 07549 698 049

If you live in North Tyneside and want to speak to someone independent to the police. Here's a list of support agencies that can help. 

Harbour 0191 2513305 Visit:myharbour.org.uk

Acorns Project Support for children and young people 0191 349 8366 Visit: acornsproject.org.uk

Rape Crisis Tyneside & Northumberland 0800 035 2794 Visit: www.rctn.org.uk

Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Rape & Sexual Assault Counselling (REACH)  03333 448283 Visit: reachsarc.org.uk

Northumbria Victim & Witness Service (NVWS) 0800 011 3116 NVWS@northumbria.police.uk

The Forced Marriage Protection Unit support and advice for victims of forced marriage 020 7008 0151 fmu@fco.gov.uk

The Angelou Centre (BAME women and children, women with no recourse to public funds) 0191 2260394 Visit: angelou-centre.org.uk

The Halo Project (Honour Based Abuse/Forced Marriage) 01642 683 045 Visit: haloproject.org.uk

Community Counselling Co-operative - Supporting male victims of domestic violence in Northumbria 07549 698 050 or 07549 698 049

If you live in Gateshead and want to speak to someone independent to the police. Here's a list of support agencies that can help. 

Domestic Abuse Service Gateshead  0191 4333333

Jewish Womens Aid  0808 801 0500 Visit: www.jwa.og.uk

Rape Crisis Tyneside & Northumberland 0800 035 2794 Visit: www.rctn.org.uk

Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Rape & Sexual Assault Counselling (REACH)  03333 448283 Visit:reachsarc.org.uk

Northumbria Victim & Witness Service (NVWS) 0800 011 3116 NVWS@northumbria.police.uk

The Forced Marriage Protection Unit support and advice for victims of forced marriage 020 7008 0151 fmu@fco.gov.uk

The Angelou Centre (BAME women and children, women with no recourse to public funds) 0191 2260394 Visit: angelou-centre.org.uk

The Halo Project (Honour Based Abuse/Forced Marriage) 01642 683 045 Visit: haloproject.org.uk

Community Counselling Co-operative - Supporting male victims of domestic violence in Northumbria 07549 698 050 or 07549 698 049

If you live in Newcastle and want to speak to someone independent to the police. Here's a list of support agencies that can help. 

NIDAS – Newcastle Integrated Domestic Abuse Services 0191 2146501 Visit: www.newcastleidas.co.uk

West End Women and Girls DV Peer Educators 0781 2981430 Visit:westendwomenandgirls.co.uk

Newcastle Women’s Aid 0191 261 0504 or 0800 9232622 Visit:newcastlewomensaid.org.uk

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland  0800 035 2794 Visit: www.rctn.org.uk

Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Rape & Sexual Assault Counselling (REACH)  03333 448283 Visit:reachsarc.org.uk

Northumbria Victim & Witness Service (NVWS) 0800 011 3116 NVWS@northumbria.police.uk

The Forced Marriage Protection Unit support and advice for victims of forced marriage 020 7008 0151 fmu@fco.gov.uk

The Angelou Centre (BAME women and children, women with no recourse to public funds) 0191 2260394 Visit: angelou-centre.org.uk

The Halo Project (Honour Based Abuse/Forced Marriage) 01642 683 045Visit: haloproject.org.uk

Community Counselling Co-operative - Supporting male victims of domestic violence in Northumbria 07549 698 050 or 07549 698 049

If you live in South Tyneside and want to speak to someone independent to the police. Here's a list of support agencies that can help. 

Impact Family Services 0191 4567577 or 0737 5788835

Jewish Womens Aid 0808 801 0500 Visit: www.jwa.og.uk

Rape Crisis Tyneside & Northumberland 0800 035 2794 Visit: www.rctn.org.uk

Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Rape & Sexual Assault Counselling (REACH)  03333 448283 Visit: reachsarc.org.uk

Northumbria Victim & Witness Service (NVWS) 0800 011 3116 NVWS@northumbria.police.uk

The Forced Marriage Protection Unit support and advice for victims of forced marriage 020 7008 0151 fmu@fco.gov.uk

The Angelou Centre (BAME women and children, women with no recourse to public funds) 0191 2260394 Visit:angelou-centre.org.uk

The Halo Project (Honour Based Abuse/Forced Marriage) 01642 683 045 Visit: haloproject.org.uk

Community Counselling Co-operative - Supporting male victims of domestic violence in Northumbria 07549 698 050 or 07549 698 049

If you live in Sunderland and want to speak to someone independent to the police. Here's a list of support agencies that can help. 

Wearside Women in Need 0800 0665555 Visit:www.wwin.org.uk

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland 0800 035 2794 Visit:www.rctn.org.uk

Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Rape & Sexual Assault Counselling (REACH)  03333 448283 Visit:reachsarc.org.uk

Northumbria Victim & Witness Service (NVWS) 0800 011 3116 NVWS@northumbria.police.uk

The Forced Marriage Protection Unit support and advice for victims of forced marriage 020 7008 0151 fmu@fco.gov.uk

The Angelou Centre (BAME women and children, women with no recourse to public funds) 0191 2260394 Visit: angelou-centre.org.uk

The Halo Project (Honour Based Abuse/Forced Marriage) 01642 683 045 Visit: haloproject.org.uk

Community Counselling Co-operative - Supporting male victims of domestic violence in Northumbria 07549 698 050 or 07549 698 049

A personal safety plan is a way of helping you to protect yourself and your children.

It helps you plan in advance for the possibility of future violence and abuse.

It also helps you to think about how you can increase your safety either within the relationship, or if you decide to leave.

• Plan in advance how you might respond in different situations, including crisis situations. Think about the different options that may be available to you.
• Keep with you any important and emergency telephone numbers (for example: domestic violence service; the police domestic violence unit; your GP; your social worker, if you have one; your children’s school; your solicitor; and the Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247).
• Teach your children to call 999 in an emergency, and what they would need to say (for example, their full name, address and telephone number).
• Are there neighbours you could trust, and where you could go in an emergency? If so, tell them what is going on, and ask them to call the police if they hear sounds of a violent attack.
• Rehearse an escape plan, so in an emergency you and the children can get away safely.
• Pack an emergency bag for yourself and your children, and hide it somewhere safe (for example, at a neighbour’s or friend’s house). Try to avoid mutual friends or family.
• Know where the nearest phone is, and if you have a mobile phone, try to keep it with you and charged at all times.
• If you suspect that your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower risk area of the house – for example where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
• Avoid the kitchen or garage where there are likely to be knives or other weapons; and avoid rooms where you might be trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
• Be prepared to leave the house in an emergency.

Local authorities have a legal duty to provide help to certain people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

You will qualify for help if you are eligible for assistance, legally homeless or threatened with homelessness and not intentionally homeless.

You must also be in priority need. The local authority may also investigate whether you have a local connection with the area.

You will normally be considered to be legally homeless if it is not reasonable for you to occupy your home because of the risk or fear of domestic violence.

Local authorities should deal sympathetically with applications from people who are in fear of violence. You can ask for a private interview, with someone of the same sex, and can take a friend with you for support.

The local authority may have a duty to provide emergency accommodation for you while it decides whether you are legally homeless.

If it is outside of normal office hours, you should telephone the local authority's emergency out-of-hours number for help with emergency housing.

If it is outside of normal office hours, you should telephone the local authority's emergency out-of-hours number for help with emergency housing.

Office and out of hours: 0345 600 6400

Shelter – housing advice. For advice or guidance, call 0344 515 1601 between the hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

If it is outside of normal office hours, you should telephone the local authority's emergency out-of-hours number for help with emergency housing.

Office hours: 0191 643 252

Out of hours: 0330 333 7475

Shelter – housing advice. For advice or guidance, call 0344 515 1601 between the hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

If it is outside of normal office hours, you should telephone the local authority's emergency out-of-hours number for help with emergency housing.

Office hours: 0191 433 3174

Out of hours: 0191 477 0844

Shelter – housing advice. For advice or guidance, call 0344 515 1601 between the hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

If it is outside of normal office hours, you should telephone the local authority's emergency out-of-hours number for help with emergency housing.

Office hours: 0191 277 1712 or 0191 277 1716

Out of hours: 0191 278 7878 (speak to the operator and ask for the emergency homeless service)

Shelter – housing advice. For advice or guidance, call 0344 515 1601 between the hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

If it is outside of normal office hours, you should telephone the local authority's emergency out-of-hours number for help with emergency housing.

Office hours: 0300 123 6633

Out of hours: 0191 4562093

Shelter – housing advice. For advice or guidance, call 0344 515 1601 between the hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

If it is outside of normal office hours, you should telephone the local authority's emergency out-of-hours number for help with emergency housing.

Office hours: 0800 2346084

Out of hours: 0191 520 555

Shelter – housing advice. For advice or guidance, call 0344 515 1601 between the hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Listen to them try to understand and take care not to blame. Tell them that they are not alone and that there are many others like them in the same situation.

Acknowledge that it takes strength to trust someone enough to talk to them about experiencing abuse. Give them time to talk, but don’t push them to go into too much detail if they don’t want to.

Acknowledge that they are in a frightening and very difficult situation.

Tell them that no one deserves to be threatened or beaten, despite what their abuser has told them. Nothing they can do or say can justify the abuser’s behaviour.

Support them as a friend. Encourage them to express their feelings, whatever they are. Allow them to make their own decisions.

Don’t tell them to leave the relationship if they are not ready to do this. This is their decision.

Ask if they have suffered physical harm. If so, offer to go with them to a hospital or to see their GP.

Be ready to provide information on organisations that offer help to abused persons and their children. Explore the available options with them.

Go with them to visit a solicitor if they are ready to take this step.

Plan safe strategies for leaving an abusive relationship.

Let them create their own boundaries of what they think is safe and what is not safe; don’t urge them to follow any strategies that they expresses doubt about.

Offer your friend the use of your address and/or telephone number to leave information and messages, and tell them you will look after an emergency bag if they want this.

Look after yourself while you are supporting someone through such a difficult and emotional time. Ensure that you do not put yourself into a dangerous situation; for example, do not offer to talk to the abuser about your friend or let yourself be seen by the abuser as a threat to their relationship.

Help them to report the incident to the police if they wish to do so.

If they're in immediate danger, you should report this to the police as soon as possible by calling 999.

If there is no incident happening now and you know they are not in any immediate danger, you can contact the police by calling 101.

Or use our online reporting form 

The Respect Phoneline is an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are harming their partners and families. They provide specialist advice and guidance to help people change their behaviours and support for those working with domestic abuse perpetrators.

Call: 0808 8024040 or visit: www.respectphoneline.org.uk

It takes strength to admit that you are abusing your partner. If you really want to change, you can.

Violence is learned behaviour. You can unlearn it – but you will only be successful if you can:

• Accept responsibility for the abuse. You cannot blame your actions on your partner, or on drink, drugs, stress or work
• Accept that the abuse comes from your desire to control your partner. Understand the ways you control her and why you behave like this
• Realise that you have a choice. You choose to be violent or abusive, and you can choose not to be
• Accept that your partner has a right to live her own life without being dominated and controlled
• Stop using anger, violence, and other abusive behaviours to control your partner
• Seek help from professionals. Start by talking to your GP, who can refer you to a perpetrator programme

Clare’s Law is a national scheme that ensures people can make informed decisions about their relationship and escape if necessary.  Absolutely anyone can apply to use Clare’s Law and request information from Northumbria Police.  

The domestic violence disclosure scheme is free and always 100% confidential. So if you’re worried about your own relationship, or someone else’s, ask us to check the record- you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. 

You can make a domestic violence disclosure request by pressing the button below. 

Hate crime is any criminal offence that is targeted at a person or group of people because of prejudice or hostility, such as race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability.

A Hate Crime can include:

• Being called names
  
• Hassled or threatened
  
• Being beaten up, kicked or attacked
  
• People swearing at you and making abusive remarks
  
• People doing things to frighten, intimidate, or scare you
  
• Bullying at school, work or college
  
• Damage to your property or car or having things stolen
  
• Spitting or making insulting gestures

Anybody can report a hate crime including:

• Anyone who has been a victim
• Anyone who has seen a crime happening
• Residents in the area
• Carers of the person
• Community group
• Anyone on behalf of someone else

Reports to Action Fraud are sent to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) which assesses the reports in order to identity those cases presenting the best opportunity for police forces and other law enforcement agencies to investigate. The NFIB is also hosted by the City of London Police.

The NFIB’s systems assess reports of fraud and cyber crime which allows reports from across the country to be linked and piece together all of the information available to us, and helps to build a national picture of where these crimes are taking place.

When reporting online you will be given the option to register, login to an existing account or continue as a guest.

By registering you will be able to:

• Save and resume a partially completed report
• Track progress of your report
• Add information to your report
• Call Action Fraud to discuss your report
• Receive an update by email

If you continue as a guest you will only be able to receive updates by email or post.

Action Fraud and the NFIB do not have investigative powers and therefore cannot guarantee or prompt a police investigation, or advise you on the contents of your report. Whilst we aim to provide an update to reports within 28 days, this is not always possible if the report is still under review by the NFIB.

For advice on how to best protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or cyber crime, please visit Action Fraud’s website or sign up for their alerts. You can also find Action Fraud on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

If you have registered on the Action Fraud system as a victim or proxy reporter, then you will receive automatic updates through your individual account.

You will also receive postal updates. If you wish to seek an update outside of the above, or if you have not registered with Action Fraud, then an update can be requested through the ‘Contact Us’ facility on the Action Fraud website.

If your report is disseminated to a police force you will be provided with the name of the recipient force. Once your report has been disseminated, the recipient force takes responsibility for providing you with updates on the progress of your case.

Reports to Action Fraud are considered for assessment or referral to the police (or other law enforcement agency) by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, operated by the City of London Police.

Once reports have been recorded by Action Fraud they are assessed against Home Office Counting Rules, which are the standards against which police record crime. Data matching allows reports from different parts of the country to be linked through analysis. Reports are then triaged to determine those that are highest risk, threat or harm.

These triaged reports are assessed by experienced crime reviewers who consider the viability of each report, or series of reports where these appear to be linked. This viability test is to ensure there are definitive lines of enquiry for a force, or other law enforcement agency to progress. Crimes that meet the viability test are referred to the appropriate police force or law enforcement agency for action. The recipient may not always be your local police force.

Information you provide on the bank accounts, websites and phone numbers used by fraudsters is regularly provided to industry partners so they can stop them from being used against future victims. Not every report results in an investigation, but every report helps to build a picture of offending and is retained for future intelligence.

Each police force (or other law enforcement agency) will review and assess referrals from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.

Northumbria Police will investigate reports of crime referred from Action Fraud and will give you regular updates about the progress of your case.

You'll be informed when a suspect is arrested, charged, bailed or sentenced. Your rights are in governed by those set out in the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

If no further action will be taken, we will communicate this to you with a rationale for our decision.

In cases where criminal investigations are not carried out or do not lead to a conviction, you may wish to consider other options to recover your losses. There are Civil Asset Recovery Agents who may be able to act on your behalf to recover criminal assets that represent some or all of your losses.

Before choosing a Civil Asset Recovery Agent, you should undertake adequate checks to ensure they are legitimate. The Financial Conduct Authority has details of known fraudulent Civil Asset Recovery Agents.

Should you choose to engage a Civil Asset Recovery Agent, you should update your Action Fraud report with their details. This update can be made through your individual account or through the ‘Contact Us’ facility on the Action Fraud website if you have not registered with Action Fraud.

Is it an emergency? If a crime is happening now or someone is in immediate danger, call 999. 

If you know the person (or persons) who has committed the fraud against you and the person is local* to you - report the incident direct to us by using our report an incident form.

*A local person could be a person belonging to a specific town or area where there are viable investigative leads to consider for an investigation. Local could also mean you know the location where the offence has taken place. 

If you're not sure who the person (or persons) that has committed the offence contact Action Fraud using the online fraud reporting tool or by calling Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Is the fraud happening now? Do you need support right away? Does it feel like the situation could get heated or violent very soon? Is someone in immediate danger? If so, please call 999 now.

If an offence has just happened contact us by using our report an incident form.

After you report an incident to us an investigation will start. We will take steps to make sure we gather all the relevant information and keep you informed throughout the process. 

In this case, please contact your local council who should be able to trace the vehicle’s owner and arrange for it to be removed.  They’ll most likely ask for the following:

• The vehicle registration mark (VRM)
• How long it has been there
• Its location
• Its condition

Please make sure you have these details to hand.

Find your local council

Report an Incident

In this case, please contact your local council, who should be able to investigate and take action if needed

Find your local council

Use our online form  Please have the following information available, if possible.

• Where this happened
• If the people involved have been here before
• What they were doing

Report an Incident

Find your local council

Use our online form.  Please have the following information available, if possible.

• Where it happened.
• How the fireworks were being misused, such as being thrown in the street or at people or property

Report an Incident

Contact your phone service provider, they should be able to suggest several ways to screen and block incoming calls.

If the calls are indecent, threatening or obscene use our online form.  Please have the following information available, if possible.

• How many calls you have recieved
• If a number was displayed
• What the caller was doing

Report an Incident

If the nuisance noise is from a single one-off event, please contact your local council’s Noise Team, who should be able to investigate and advise you on the next steps.

Find your local council

If the nuisance noise is causing an ongoing disruption, use our online form. 

Report an Incident

Please have these details to hand:

• the cause of the noise
• where it was coming from
• how long it went on for

Use our online form.  Please have the following information available, if possible.

• Where it happened
• Details or a description of the people involved
• If they appeared drunk
• If they were being rowdy or causing a nuisance
• How the fireworks were being misused, such as being thrown in the street or at people or property

Report an Incident

Use our online form.  Please have the following information available, if possible.

• Type of activity, such as posting sex cards or loitering
• Where this happened
• If this happens often

Report an Incident

Use our online form.  Please have the following information available, if possible.

• Where it happened
• How many people were involved
• What they were doing

Report an Incident

Trespassing considered to be antisocial behaviour covers those situations where people have entered land, including water, or premises without lawful authority or permission. This includes taking unauthorised short cuts through a garden or building. It also includes people trespassing on railways and other private or industrial land.

In this case, use our online form.  Please have the following information available, if possible.

• Details or a description of the people involved
• Whether they were trespassing in a building or on land
• Details of any equipment they had with them

Report an Incident

Use our online form.  Please have the following information available, if possible.

• Where this has happened
• What happened
• The vehicle's details, including vehicle registration mark (VRM)

  Report an Incident

Please contact your local council who will be able to investigate and advise you on the next steps

Find your local council

Northumbria Police do not issue reference numbers for lost property. You can obtain a lost property reference number if you report your lost phone at secureassetregister.com

You must contact the officer in charge of the case directly to discuss the return of the property. Usually the officer will arrange for a letter to be sent to your last known home address informing you to contact Northumbria Police to arrange a collection. This letter will usually contain a property reference number with details stating where to collect the property from. 

Northumbria Police are always open to the offer of dogs which may make the grade as Police dogs. We may be interested in German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois for use as General Purpose Police dogs and Springer/Cocker Spaniels for specialist work.

If you have a dog which meets these requirements and has high drive and confidence (not necessarily aggression) and you would like to have it considered for the role, then please email 8327@northumbria.pnn.police.uk with the details of your dog e.g. age, sex, etc. 

A subject access request allows you to access the local data Northumbria Police hold about you. You can apply direct to us. 

It is not a requirement to complete a form however the form may make it easier to locate the information you require. A request can also be made verbally. 

We will require copies of relevant proof of identity as explained below.

1. Complete the form: Subject access request form 
2. Sent it direct to us via post to:

Information Compliance
Northumbria Police
Bedlington Police Station,
Schalksmuhle Road
Bedlington
Northumberland
NE22 7LA

Please note you cannot attend this address in person

3  Or via email: to data.protection@northumbria.pnn.police.uk 

4  You must also include:

• A copy of an identification document, e.g. birth certificate, current passport
• A copy of proof of address, e.g. a utility bill (within last 6 months) medical card or British driving licence (should you not be able to provide proof of address due to your circumstances, please contact us via email or telephone to make some other arrangements to confirm your identity)

Please do not send original documents, copies will not be returned.

No fee is applicable for this service, however a reasonable fee can be charged or a request can be refused when a request is classed as unfounded, excessive or repetitive.

We must provide you with your information within one month of receipt, however we can lawfully extend this by a further two months if your request is complex or numerous. If there is a delay in dealing with your request we will inform you within one month of receipt of the request and explain why the extension is necessary. If proof of identity is sought then the one month will commence when your identity has been confirmed.

Please note that if the data held is too large to email to an applicant then Northumbria Police will send it by post to the address provided as part of the subject access request.

Should a response be required in larger font, then this can be made available.

If you would like access to information held on national police systems, such as the Police National Computer (PNC) you would need to contact Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Records Office ACRO.

When making an access request, include the following information:

• Your name and contact details.
• Any information used by the organisation to identify or distinguish you from other people with the same name (account numbers etc).
• Any details or relevant dates that will help it identify what you want.

For example, you may want to ask for:

• your interview statements;
• footage of you captured through CCTV/ other recordable devices
• custody records
• correspondence between the police and other organisations, such as those providing support to you.

A suitable request can be made using: The civil disclosures form emailed to: data.protection@northumbria.pnn.police.uk and bacs/bank transfer of £106.80 made to the following:

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner

Sort Code – 20-59-42

Account No. 23741974

Using your clients name as a reference.

Further charges may apply in accordance with the National Policing Guidelines on Charging for Police Services.

1. A suitable request can be made by using our MS Form
2. Or by submitting a Public Law Protocol Proforma form and sending it direct to us at disclosureppl@northumbria.pnn.police.uk

National Policing Guidelines on Charging for Police Services will apply and we will return to you to explain what these are. The initial fee is £106.80 in private family law proceedings.

Your legal representation should get in touch with us direct by emailing: data.protection@northumbria.pnn.police.uk

An ACPO and ABI Form should be submitted via email to: data.protection@northumbria.pnn.police.uk and bacs/bank transfer of £152.50 made to the following:

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner

Sort Code – 20-59-42

Account No. 23741974

Using your clients name as a reference.

Further charges may apply in accordance with the National Policing Guidelines on Charging for Police Services.

You can request this information from us via a Freedom of Information request.

1. To help us quickly find the information you need:

Please tell us your name, exactly what you want to know and how you want to receive the information. 

2  Send your request direct to us by our online form 

3  Or email us your request to freedom.info@northumbria.pnn.police.uk

Before submitting a request, please refer to our disclosure log which holds responses to other requests. This may hold the information you are looking for.

If you require a Police Certificate to apply for emigration visas, work permits or residency in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States should download the application from for an ACPO Police Certificate from the ACRO website.

If you require a disclosure for employment purposes, and you live in England, Scotland or Wales, please contact your local office: 

• England and Wales: Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) formerly known as CRB checks.
• Scotland: Disclosure Scotland
• Northern Ireland: NI Direct Government Services

In certain circumstances you may apply to have your fingerprints and DNA profiles deleted from national police systems, namely the National Fingerprint Database (IDENT1) and the National DNA Database (NDNAD).

Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (which amended the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, known as PACE) police in England and Wales are able to indefinitely retain your biometric information – including your DNA profile and fingerprints - if you have been convicted of an offence.

Under the Act, your biometric information will be immediately deleted if you were not convicted of a recordable offence, provided that specific criteria are satisfied.

Further information concerning the ‘Early Deletion Process’ can be accessed on the ACPO Criminal Records Office website.

For more information relating to the deletion of images taken in custody click here. 

If you think you have been treated unfairly by the police or that the standard of service fell short of your expectations, you have a right as a member of the public to make a complaint. This can also be referred to as an ‘expression of dissatisfaction’.

Complaints can be made about general standards of policing, operational policies/procedures and individuals who work for Northumbria Police. This includes serving officers, members of police staff, contractors and volunteers.

You must have been directly affected by the issue you are complaining about. You cannot make a complaint if you have only heard about the actions of an officer, police staff member, contractor or volunteer by a 3rd party.  Similarly you cannot make a formal complaint if you have only viewed the actions via video or online post of an incident where you were not present.

If you wish to make a complaint on behalf of another person, you will need to have their written permission to do so.

There is no time limit for making your complaint; however you should try to submit it as soon as possible.  If a complaint is made a long time after an incident, it can be more difficult to obtain evidence to investigate it further. This may affect the outcome of the investigation as many lines of enquiry such as CCTV or Body Worn Video are not retained after a certain length of time and may not be available to the investigator. It may not be possible, reasonable or proportionate to investigate complaints about officers or incidents where many years have passed as the persons involved may no longer be working with us and accounts or records may not be available. 

If your complaint is submitted more than 12 months after the incident you should provide an explanation as to why it has been delayed.  We will consider your explanation and consider if it is reasonable and proportionate to address your complaint.

Once we have received your complaint, we will work to address the issues you have raised. Within five working days you will be contacted by our Complaints Services Team in order to fully understand the context of your complaint and guide you through the process.

We have a responsibility to respond to your complaint in a ‘reasonable and proportionate’ manner; the team will seek clarity from you as to your expected outcome and will help to address your concerns where appropriate at the earliest opportunity. Where this is not possible, you can expect your complaint to be referred to our Professional Standards Department to be recorded in accordance with Schedule 3 of the Police Reform Act 2002.

The Professional Standards Department will review and assess your complaint to determine if it is reasonable or proportionate to investigate.

If your complaint is assessed and deemed suitable for investigation, the complaint will be allocated to an investigator. Serious conduct issues are allocated to the Professional Standards Department to investigate. Other complaints will be allocated to the most suitable investigator within the relevant force area.

You will be contacted by the investigator to discuss your complaint allegations to ensure that your concerns are understood. You will be contacted at least every 28 days with an update on the progress of your complaint.  At the conclusion of the investigation the investigator will provide you with an investigation outcome letter. The letter will outline the actions the investigator has undertaken to determine the outcome of your complaint.

The outcome of your complaint will determine the service provided to you by the police as being either acceptable, not acceptable or the investigator could not determine the level of service. The investigator will also provide some explanation or rationale for the complaint outcome.

If the level of service provided by the police has been unacceptable, the following actions may be taken with the officer or member of police staff.

• Learning from Reflection. The officer or member of staff will be spoken to by their supervision to reflect on the learning raised by the complaint investigator.
• Practice Requiring Improvement (PRI) – Reflective Practice Review Process (RPRP). The officer or member of police staff will have a formal discussion which is documented. During this discussion the behaviour or actions of the officer or member of police staff subject of the complaint, will be discussed and issues addressed. This may be by additional training, mentoring or any other method deemed suitable.
• Misconduct Meeting - this is takes place when an individual is found to have a ‘Case to Answer’ for misconduct. The maximum disciplinary outcome is a final written warning.
• Misconduct Hearing – This takes place when an individual is found to have a ‘Case to Answer’ for gross misconduct. The maximum disciplinary outcome is dismissal without notice.
• Unsatisfactory Performance Procedure (UPP) – this may be invoked due to an officer’s inability or failure to perform their role to a satisfactory level where there is no evidence of misconduct.
• The outcome of a complaint investigation may include non-disciplinary outcomes such as individual or organisational learning.

There are many reasons why it may not be reasonable or proportionate to investigate your complaint, which may include:

• Repetitious – your complaint is the same or similar to a previous complaint made by you and for which you have received a response
• Process – the police complaints process may not be the correct one for dealing with your dissatisfaction. A more appropriate process may be better suited to your needs and you will be advised of the one to follow for your issue.
• Not a valid complainant – You have not witnessed the alleged conduct of an officer or member of police staff or are not directly adversely affected by such conduct.
• Vexatious – Your complaint has been made solely to vex, worry or annoy the officer or member of police staff and the allegation is without foundation.
• Fanciful – Your complaint allegation is without foundation and no reasonable person would believe that such conduct or behavior has occurred.
• Time – your allegation is with regards to an incident that occurred so long ago that it would not be reasonable or proportionate for a serving officer or member of staff to recall the events or due to the passage of time and there is no evidence reasonably available to support your allegation.

You will be notified of the assessment outcome at the earliest opportunity.

By law, Northumbria Police must refer certain complaints to the IOPC, including those with an allegation of serious corruption or serious injury.

If your complaint is referred to the IOPC, you will be notified and the IOPC will decide who investigates the complaint. It may be investigated independently by the IOPC or it may be returned to Northumbria Police to investigate further.

• Click here to use our online complaints form
• By email: professionalstandards@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
• By post: Professional Standards Department, Newcastle City Centre Police Station, Forth Banks, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3PH
• In person at any police station with a front office

Or you can complain to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)

• Click here to use the online complaint form
• By post to the IOPC: PO Box 473, Sale, M33 0BW
• By email to the IOPC: enquiries@policeconduct.gov.uk

If at the conclusion of your complaint investigation, you are unhappy with the way your complaint was handled or with the final outcome you have a right to apply for a request for review.

The relevant review body will look at whether the handling or the outcome of your complaint was reasonable and proportionate. Reasonable and proportionate means doing what is appropriate in the circumstances, taking into account the facts and the context in which the complaint has been raised within the framework of legislation and guidance.

Some reviews are handled by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and some by an Independent Review Officer (IRO) who is appointed by the local Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). They are impartial and independent from Professional Standards Department; they have no prior knowledge of your complaint and have not been involved in the investigation.

To find out who should handle your request for review please refer to the letter you received from Professional Standards Department informing you of the outcome of your complaint. This will ensure that you send your review request to the correct organisation; your letter will also tell you when your review must be received by.

You can request a review against the investigation into your complaint if:

• You feel you did not receive enough information to enable you to understand why Northumbria Police came to their decision.
• You disagree with the findings of an investigation into your complaint. You might feel that the right witnesses were not interviewed, or that your complaint was misunderstood, or that Northumbria Police did not make the right decision based on all the evidence.
• You disagree with the action that Northumbria Police plan to take after investigating your complaint.
• You do not think that Northumbria Police made the right decision about whether an officer or staff member you complained about has a case to answer for misconduct, gross misconduct, or whether their performance was unsatisfactory.
• You disagree with the decision not to refer the officer’s or staff member’s conduct to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for a decision about whether to bring criminal charges.

• You can request a review against the decision made by the Force Assessor not to investigate your complaint on the grounds that it is not reasonable or proportionate.
• You disagree with the rationale provided by the Force Assessor when making their decision

Your outcome letter will provide you with details of the relevant review body. You have 28 days within which to lodge your request for review to either the OPCC or the IOPC.  You are advised to lodge your request for review in good time to ensure it reaches the correct review body before the end of the 28^th day which will be provided in your outcome letter.                                                    

A request for review received outside of the 28^th day may not be considered.

If you have been advised the relevant review body is the Office of the Police Crime Commissioner you can:

You can request a review to Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner online here.

You can submit your request for review by post to:

Director of Confidence, Standards and Statutory Reviews

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner

2nd Floor Victory House

Balliol Business Park

Benton Lane

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE12 8EW

Alternatively attach your completed request for review form and return by e-mail to: enquiries@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk

If you require any further information please refer to the PCC website at: northumbira-pcc.gov.uk

If you have been advised the relevant review body is the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)

You can request a review to Independent Office for Police Conduct online here.

Or you can request a form to be sent to you in the post, please contact the IOPC direct on 0300 020 0096.

You can submit your request for review by post to:

IOPC

PO Box 473

Sale

M33 OBW

Alternatively attach your completed request for review form and return by email to: NorthCasework@policeconduct.gov.uk

If you require any further information please refer the IOPC website at: www.policeconduct.gov.uk

The below number is the confidential reporting line for you to report ANY matters you wish to bring to the attention of the Counter Corruption Unit, regarding criminal and/ or unethical behaviour you have witnessed or are aware of within the Force.

Examples of the type of behaviour you may wish to report are:

• Disclosing of confidential information
• Criminal associations
• Abuse of position for sexual gain

ANY reporting, will be handled in the strictest confidence and your identity will be protected.

Confidential Reporting Number

Police Integrity Line
Tel: 0800 111 4444
northumbria-confidential-hotline@northumbria.pnn.police.uk

or email: countercorruptionunit@northumbria.pnn.police.uk

The abuse of position for a sexual purpose is defined as:

'Any behaviour by a police officer or police staff member (including volunteers or staff contracted into police roles), whether on or off duty, that takes advantage of their position as a member of the police service to misuse their position, authority or powers in order to pursue a sexual or improper emotional relationship with any member of the public'.

This includes: committing a sexual act, initiating sexual contact with, or responding to any perceived sexually motivated behaviour from another person; entering into any communication that could be perceived as sexually motivated or lewd; or for any other sexual purpose.

The majority of police officers and police staff (including volunteers or staff contracted into police roles) are hardworking, professional and deliver an excellent service, however, sadly corruption of this kind does occurs in all forces and we all have a responsibility to prevent it and to protect all sections of the community, most notably the vulnerable.

People who are particularly vulnerable to such abuse include those suffering mental ill health, those with learning difficulties, juveniles, those who are drug or alcohol dependent, victims of abuse and victims of an alarming or traumatic experience.

Possible warning signs

• The perception of an officer as a ‘knight in shining armour’. This might manifest itself as gushing praise.
• Victim has a ‘favourite officer’ or frequently requests a certain officer
• Unexpected visits/ welfare checks by the officer
• Domestic abuse investigation is steered towards low level/ quick resolution
• Physical contact
• Flirtatious behaviour
• Nicknames/ pet names
• Unnecessary communication i.e. through social media/ phone/ email
• Kisses on end of messages (‘x’) or other sexualised comments
• Contact or visits off duty
• Presents/ gifts/letters
• Continued contact after an incident or case is concluded

Reporting options

• Report via a third party agency (IOPC, Local Authority, Solicitor, Citizens Advice Bureau, other support agency or charity)
• Report via the Police Confidential Reporting Line

The below number is the confidential reporting line for you to report ANY matters you wish to bring to the attention of the Police Counter Corruption Unit, regarding criminal and/ or unethical behaviour you have witnessed or are aware of within the Force.

Examples of the type of behaviour you may wish to report are disclosing of confidential information, criminal associations and abuse of position for sexual gain.

ANY reporting will be handled in the strictest confidence and your identity will be protected.

Confidential Reporting Number
Police Integrity Line
Tel: 0800 111 4444
northumbria-confidential-hotline@northumbria.pnn.police.uk

The majority of police officers, staff and volunteers are hardworking, professional and deliver an excellent service. However, some are sadly still capable of falling below the high standards set by the force. We have a responsibility to prevent domestic abuse, protect against the risks of having domestic abuse perpetrators in police roles, and to protect all sections of the community from it.

Some victims of domestic abuse at the hands of police officers, staff and volunteers may find it more difficult to report given the unique nature of it and position of the abuser. Northumbria Police will not tolerate its employees perpetrating abuse of any form and will ensure reports of domestic abuse will be investigated thoroughly, with impartiality and confidentiality, and appropriate support provided regardless of the position of the perpetrator. The position of the perpetrator should not be a barrier to reporting. Any allegation that a police workforce member has used their police status, knowledge and powers to deter a victim from reporting, to harm or discredit them or to undermine a police investigation will be treated with utmost seriousness. 

The definition of domestic abuse:

Domestic abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of sexuality.

It can include the following types of abuse:

• Psychological
• Physical
• Sexual
• Financial
• Emotional

Domestic abuse can include harassment, stalking, female genital mutilation, forced marriage and honour based abuse.

If you are concerned that you or someone you know might be a victim of police perpetrated domestic abuse please speak to our Professional Standards Department:

• Click here to use our online complaints form
• By email: professionalstandards@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
• By post: Professional Standards Department, Newcastle City Centre Police Station, Forth Banks, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3PH
• In person at any police station with a front office

Or you can complain to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)

• Click here to use the online complaint form
• By post to the IOPC: PO Box 473, Sale, M33 0BW
• By email to the IOPC: enquiries@policeconduct.gov.uk

Confidential Reporting Number
Police Integrity Line
Tel: 0800 111 4444
northumbria-confidential-hotline@northumbria.pnn.police.uk

Read more information and support relating to domestic abuse.

Read more: Understanding the boundaries PDF

Visit: IOPC Learning the Lessons

Issue

Through organisational learning, reflective practice and misconduct meetings Northumbria Police revealed issues surrounding officers/ staff accessing data on the Force Computer System without a ‘policing purpose’.

Such actions may also constitute a criminal offence under Section 55 Data Protection Act 1998 and/ or Section 1 Computer Misuse Act 1990.

So that lessons can be learned, officers/ staff need to be aware that any confidential and personal information they access on the Force Computer System must be related to their role and/ or for a ‘policing purpose’. 

Failure to comply may result in individuals facing criminal prosecutions/ convictions at court and regulatory action against the Force undertaken by the Information Commissioner’s Office. 

To ensure that all officers and staff understand their personal responsibility when using Northumbria Police ICT Systems there is an Acceptable Use Policy which they are asked to read.

Lessons

Issues around confidentiality have been addressed during Professional Standards Department (PSD) presentations to all officers/ staff across the Force. An awareness of the impact/ outcome of any breaches is highlighted during these inputs. A Force Wide bulletin called ‘The Standard’ continues to raise awareness and learning. 

Outcomes

Reduce/ Prevent breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998/ Computer Misuse Act 1990 and the Professional Standards of Behaviour; Confidentiality.

Issue

There was an increase in the number of persons brought unnecessarily into custody whilst heavily under the influence of alcohol, drugs and other intoxicants.

CCTV within custody suites has shown that these individuals have been:

• Unable to either walk unaided or stand unaided and have been unaware of their own actions, or unable to fully understand what has been said to them.

Persons who present in this condition should be treated in hospital rather than taken to a custody suite. The medical services at a police station are not equipped to provide the extensive care such detainees require.

Where a police officer/ PCSO deals with a person who is drunk and incapable and/ or heavily under the influence of drugs or intoxicants they will:

• Administer first aid where appropriate, in accordance with their training
• Request the attendance of an ambulance to enable a medical assessment of the person to take place.

Where a person has declined or has been refused treatment this does not absolve the police or medical services of their responsibility. A dynamic risk assessment should be carried out taking into account all of the given circumstances. Officers should have an understanding of the drunk and incapable protocol between Northumbria Police and the North East Ambulance Service which will assist in the decision making process. 

However, arrest and detention at a custody suite should only occur in exceptional circumstances as appropriate medical treatment is delayed and increases the risk to all parties.

In instances where detainees are drunk/ under the influence of drugs but are not deemed to be ‘incapable’, officers need to be confident that the person is fit to be transported to a custody suite and monitor their condition throughout the journey.

It is important to understand that a person who presents as being drunk and disorderly may in fact have another medical condition. Further information can be found on the College of Policing APP Guidance on Detention and Custody: Alcohol and Drugs.

Any person with a head injury or open wound which requires medical attention should go directly to hospital for treatment.

Lessons

Amendments have been made to the Force Policy/ Procedure on drunk and incapable to bring them up to date. A lessons learned bulletin was circulated Force wide providing guidance on how to deal with persons who present in such a way. Further updates have been provided in ‘The Standard’ bulletin to ensure learning and development continues.

Outcomes

Medical attention provided to persons who present as drunk and incapable at the earliest opportunity. Prevent/ reduce the risk of deaths in custody.

Issue

Missing persons who have subsequently been found deceased in circumstances which have resulted in mandatory referrals to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to police contact. Concerns were identified around the risk assessments carried out either at the time the person(s) was reported missing or during the period prior to them being found. Other reflective learning identified the need to record clearly what areas had been searched. 

Lessons

A review of the training provided to Silver/ Bronze commanders was carried out, particularly around risk assessments. New policy documents for Silver commanders and police searched trained advisors (PolSa’s) have been issued to ensure decisions are recorded and that effective handovers are given regarding what areas have been searched. Further training has been provided and the Force procedure has been updated reflecting the need to identify the correct risk assessment after an incident has been created. A Force focus group has been introduced to ensure procedures and how we deal with missing persons reflects current organisational learning. The Force regularly reviews updates from the IOPC to reflect on learning across the country. 

Outcomes

The Force will continue to improve its response and handling of missing persons in line with its up to date procedures and learning.

Issue

Officers/ staff using their professional position to establish or pursue a sexual or improper emotional relationship with any current or former victim, offender or witness, or using contact with them to pursue a relationship with someone close to them. 

The abuse of position for a sexual purpose is defined as:

"Any behaviour by a police officer or police staff member*, whether on or off duty, that takes advantage of their position as a member of the police service to misuse their position, authority or powers in order to pursue a sexual or improper emotional relationship with any member of the public."

This includes: committing a sexual act, initiating sexual contact with, or responding to any perceived sexually motivated behaviour from another person; entering into any communication that could be perceived as sexually motivated or lewd; or for any other sexual purpose. (*including volunteers or staff contracted into police roles)

The Standards of Professional Behaviour state that:

"We do not use our professional position to establish or pursue a sexual or improper emotional relationship with anyone with whom we come into contact with in the course of our work, who is vulnerable to an abuse of trust or power."

Lessons

Presentations/ briefings have been delivered by Professional Standards Department (PSD) staff to all officers/ staff across the force on Maintaining Professional Boundaries.

Presentations/ briefings have been delivered on the same issue by PSD staff to partners/ agencies. These issues and awareness are continually raised in ‘The Standard’.

Outcome

To prevent this serious form of corruption and highlight the importance of reporting any concerns/ suspicions in relation to colleagues. 

View performance data 

Northumbria Police demands the highest standards of professionalism, honesty and integrity from its officers and staff. Where those standards are not met, consideration may be given to instigating misconduct proceedings.

Read more on misconduct hearings and outcomes