A long-running scheme tackling anti-social behaviour along the North Tyneside coast has returned for the summer.
Operation Coastwatch is a joint effort by Northumbria Police, North Tyneside Council and Metro operator Nexus, which aims to address concerns around antisocial behaviour around the beaches and transport hubs during the busy summer months.
It involves extra foot patrols, beach wardens, and the deployment of mobile CCTV to reassure local people and visitors and keep the coast safe and welcoming for all.
Data shows a 62% reduction in antisocial behaviour along the coast compared to this time last year.
This summer, Police and the Council’s Community Protection Team will pay special attention to the southern end of Longsands beach, near the boardwalk, where large groups of young people have been gathering on Friday and Saturday evenings.
While most of the gatherings are good-natured, recent weeks have seen incidents involving alcohol, anti-social behaviour, and deliberate fire-setting resulting in call outs for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.
To help ensure public safety, partner agencies will:
- Carry out high-visibility partnership patrols at peak times with police, the council and the fire service working together to identify any hotspot areas
- Deploy mobile CCTV to Longsands, with 360-degree cameras to keep eyes on the beach
- Using dispersal powers where necessary to manage large crowds
- Engage with young people and the wider community
Parents are also being asked to check where their children are going on an evening, who they are with, and whether they are carrying alcohol.
Councillor Sandra Graham, Cabinet Member for Crime and Community Safety, said: “We know most young people come to the beach to enjoy the warm weather and spend time with friends – and they do so responsibly. But where there are concerns, especially involving alcohol or fire-setting, it’s important we step in.
“Operation Coastwatch is all about keeping our coastline safe and enjoyable for everyone. It’s a strong partnership that helps prevent problems before they start. I’d like to thank residents, parents and young people for playing their part in keeping the coast a safe and welcoming place.”
Neighbourhood Inspector Michael Hood, of Northumbria Police, said: “We’re aware of the detrimental impact that a minority of people causing anti-social behaviour can have on our community.
“That is why we run several proactive operations throughout the year such as Coastwatch to ensure the area is kept trouble-free and also so that those carrying out such criminality are identified and brought to justice.
“Let us be clear, this type of criminality is never acceptable and working alongside our partner organisations we are committed to tackling any issues relating to it, ensuring North Tyneside remains the safe and inviting place it is for all.
“Thank you to the public for your ongoing support and if you do witness anti-social behaviour in your area, please contact us so that we can take the necessary action.”
Erika Allen, Quality Health Safety Security and Environment (QHSSE) Director at Nexus, said: “Metro is a key route into North Tyneside, and we don’t want a small minority of troublemakers to spoil it for everyone else.
“We’re working closely with the police and our local authority partners again this summer through Operation Coastwatch, which will see extra police patrols on our trains and at our Metro stations in order to provide public re-assurance, and deal with any anti-social behaviour and fare evasion.
“This builds on the work we have already done to improve safety and security on the transport network, including the roll out of our dedicated security teams, investment in new CCTV, and the launch of our text message alert system which allows customers to report any concerns to our Metro control room easily and discreetly.
“Metro is a safe system to travel on and we are determined to keep it that way. Anyone who gets caught causing trouble on Metro property faces prosecution through the courts and a possible ban from travelling on the system.”
Paul Russell, Area Manager Community Safety, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We welcome any partnership initiatives that aim to reduce deliberate fire setting within our communities across Tyne and Wear.
“A quick response is vital for any blue light organisation when answering emergency calls, and the simple fact is that our fire appliances can’t be in two places at once. If our crews are attending a deliberate act of anti-social behaviour, it means those firefighters can’t save the lives of other people when a genuine incident occurs elsewhere.
“This not only means it can take us longer to get there, but it can prevent fire appliances from responding altogether. This could be extremely costly for members of our community who are desperately in need our help”.
Operation Coastwatch will continue throughout the summer, with support from local partners, businesses and the wider community.
If you witness fire-setting or anti-social behaviour, please report by sending Northumbria Police a direct message on social media or using the live chat or report forms on the Force website.
If you are unable to make contact via those ways, call 101.
In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always ring 999.