Crime & Prevention
NORTHUMBRIA Police is using technology to help make this a safe and happy Bank Holiday weekend in the region.
Extra patrols are planned to cope with an expected influx of Bank Holiday revellers in the major towns and cities, with specific measures in place to identify anyone carrying weapons, to ensure this region remains one of the safest in the UK.
This includes the trial in Sunderland of airport-style handheld metal detectors to seek out anyone carrying a knife. They will be used over the weekend and the results closely monitored.
Superintendent Kay Blyth, from Sunderland Area Command, said: " There is simply no reason and no excuse for anyone to carry a knife in public. It doesn't make them safer and in reality puts them at more risk.
" This weekend is the ideal opportunity to put these metal detectors to the test. They will be used along with normal stop and search tactics. People should be in no doubt: if you are caught carrying a knife you will be charged with possessing an offensive weapon. This is a serious offence which carries strict penalties.
" However, I must stress that although recent stabbings in the area have heightened concerns from some members of the public, we don't have the same level of problems as experienced in other parts of the country.
" Patrols are part of normal routine for us, we are raising the profile this weekend to reassure the public and address the concerns they have that we specifically target those carrying knives.
" Neighbourhood teams across the city work closely with our partners and local community to combat crime and make the area a safer place and will continue to do so to make the city a safe place to live, work and visit."
In Newcastle, the same message is going out, with high visible patrols to reassure people that the force wants a safe holiday weekend for everyone, while taking strong enforcement action against knives.
Superintendent Chris Thomson, from Newcastle Area Command, said: " It's perfectly normal to have extra patrols over a Bank Holiday and this weekend is no exception. We want people to come to Newcastle and enjoy it, we don't want them to become victims of crime or get rashly involved in disorder.
" Our officers know people are concerned, our job is to make them feel safe.
" This region is, after all, a safe place in which to live, work and visit."
Superintendent Ralph Logan, from North Tyneside Area Command said: " We will be running a high profile police operation across North Tyneside this Bank Holiday, targeting people who are believed to be carrying knives and other offensive weapons.
" A variety of police tactics and resources are being used. We will be closely monitoring the areas in and around pubs and clubs to make sure North Tyneside is a safe place to visit and socialise.
" Incidents in North Tyneside of violent crime involving knives or other weapons are low and are reducing. However, we're aware of people's concerns and the use of weapons will not be tolerated.
" We want people to relax and enjoy this Bank Holiday."
Northumberland area command are planning targeted patrols to make sure the expected high numbers of visitors, particularly those attending the County Show, enjoy the holiday weekend.
Superintendent Gordon Milward said: " With the Bank Holiday weekend coming up and the holiday season getting underway generally, extra patrols will be directed to the areas where we may need them.
" The influx of visitors to the county brings its own demands, but we're used to dealing with the increased numbers of people who we welcome to Northumberland each year."
In South Tyneside during the Bank Holiday weekend police will be on duty in local authority CCTV monitoring rooms to quickly identify any emerging flashpoints and allow police to intervene at an early stage. Extra resources will be on patrol in key areas including Metro stations, pubs and the amusement park, where police expect to see a lot of visitors.
Chief Inspector Dave Metcalfe said: " We want to deter people from carrying knives and detect those carrying knives. We've been working hard with the local authority and schools as part of our Safer South Tyneside partnership, and our recent knife amnesty helped raise awareness of the dangers of knives."
Gateshead area command is planning extra patrols over the weekend due to the expected high number of visitors to the area, particularly those attending the Evolution festival at Gateshead Quays on Saturday, and culminating in a free music festival on Bank Holiday Monday.
Chief Inspector Tim Smith said: " There will be an increased police presence in Gateshead over the Bank Holiday weekend, including extra patrols dedicated to the music festival which is taking place at Gateshead Quays.
" We're expecting a busy weekend and have brought in extra officers accordingly but I'm sure the vast majority of people will be here to enjoy themseves."
Magistrates order crime cash to be forfeit
Magistrates in Gateshead have ordered more than £7,000 to be forfeit after agreeing with Northumbria Police that the cash was gained through crime.
The cash recovery proceedings are part of Operation Payback, the forcewide campaign to take the cash out of crime by seizing criminally-gained assets, including money, cars and luxury goods.
After police have seized assets they apply to magistrates for an order of forfeit. These are civil proceedings, with the onus on the owner to prove that the assets have been obtained lawfully.
Last Thursday, April 12, magistrates granted a cash forfeiture order to the value of £6,090 against two men from the Gateshead area. The order was contested but after hearing evidence magistrates ruled that the cash be forfeit.
The following day, Gateshead magistrates granted a cash forfeiture order to the value of £1,245 against another man from Gateshead. This order was not contested.
DI Phil Butler, of Northumbria's Economic Crime Unit, said: " This is an indication that we mean business when it comes to taking the cash out of crime. We have the power to seize cash and other goods, and will always seek to follow that up with a permanent order of forfeit. It's going to be Payback Time for a long time to come!"
Combat Criminal Damage
Starting next week the force begins its 'Together we can combat crime' campaign targeting the often opportunist crime of criminal damage, anything from smashing a window to scratching a car and setting a wheelie bin on fire.
As well as reducing the number of crimes, which cost the region hundreds of thousands of pounds each year, the force also aims to increase the number of detections and reduce the fear of crime.
Adverts for 'Together we can combat crime' began yesterday on local radio stations, with the campaign running for eight weeks until the beginning of June.
Northumbria's Chief Constable Mike Craik said: " To some people scratching a car, breaking a window or setting a wheelie bin on fire will be considered 'just a bit of a laugh'.
" But I'm here to tell them that it is no joke. Total policing is all about tackling crime and disorder at all levels and this includes criminal damage.
" It's a crime which often not only affects the person who is the victim - the person whose car is damaged, whose window is broken, whose garage door is sprayed with graffiti - but also the wider community.
" This damage is caused by a small minority of people, but their actions cause a disproportionate level of fear of crime in neighbourhoods as their anti-social actions are usually there for everyone to see.
" We hope local communities will join with us in this campaign, sharing information and helping us to help them not to become targets of these opportunist criminals."
Criminal damage is a crime and people can end up with a criminal record, it could even land the person responsible with a prison sentence.
It's payback time - first results
A Northumbria Police initiative to take the cash out of crime is starting to bite, after a series of operations throughout the force today.
Operation Payback is a big push to seize the assets of criminals, targeting both low level offenders as well as those who profit from organised, serious crime. It is the culmination of a year-long asset recovery plan through which £3m has been seized since the beginning of April 2006.
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, police can seize any cash or goods if they are believed to be criminal property or being used to commit crime. As part of Chief Constable Mike Craik's pledge of Total Policing, Northumbria have taken every opportunity to use these powers.
The aim is to target people who have extravagant lifestyles without any obvious source of income, such as a job. Anyone suspected of financing their lifestyle through crime could have their assets seized.
The forcewide operations today resulted in the following:
In South Tyneside, a man claiming benefit who has recently spent five weeks in a five star hotel in Thailand was arrested and will be subject to enquiries into how the holiday was financed. At the same house, a 52in plasma screen TV, other electricals and £1,000 in cash was recovered. A Ford Focus was also seized.
In Northumberland, £4,000 in cash, a number of vehicles and a jet ski were recovered. Also drugs, believed to be cocaine, were seized and two men arrested.
In Newcastle two men were arrested and a red Mini Cooper convertible recovered along with £1,500 in cash.
In Sunderland two people were arrested on suspicion of obtaining money by deception and over £3,000 was seized.
In Gateshead one woman was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, and a Rolex watch together with designer handbags and clothes were seized.
In North Tyneside one man has been arrested.
Det Supt Mike Jones said: " All of these arrests and seizures show the power of us having financial investigators in every area of Nothumbria Police, tackling local targets in local communities who are living a life of luxury from crime while their hardworking neighbours toil away.
" These are some of the first of many steps to start to redress that imbalance and show that crime does not pay. Members of the public can help us greatly in this mission, and I would urge anyone who has any information which could help identify other offenders to ring Crimestoppers 0800 555111, anonymously if they prefer.
" It really is payback time!"
In all cases, asset recovery procedures will get underway, running alongside criminal investigations into the owners.
16 year jail sentence for teenage killer
A MAN who stabbed a teenage boy to death on the day of his birthday has today been jailed for 16 years.
Lee Firman, 19, of Thorne Holme Avenue, Sunderland, was sentenced after pleading guilty for the murder of 16-year-old Glen Corner on August 25, 2006.
Glen was stabbed in East Avenue, South Shields, around 10pm, on Friday, August 25, 2006, following a night of celebration - he had just received his GCSE results and it was his 16th birthday. He was taken to hospital with serious stab wounds and later died as a result of his injuries.
Firman, who was then 18, was arrested in connection with the stabbing early the next morning and later charged with murder. He pleaded guilty to murder with intent to cause serious harm on February 12, 2007.
Detective Inspector Steve Barron, who led the investigation, said: " Firman is a violent individual who set out on the night of August 25 to seriously injure someone. His actions resulted in the tragic death of a boy who had a promising future ahead of him.
" The tireless work of the investigation team and witnesses who came forward has meant that Firman had no other choice but to plead guilty.
" I would like to thank Glen's family, witnesses and the investigation team for their assistance in bringing Firman to justice. "
The following statement is from Suzanne Hilton, Glen's mother:
" On the night of August 25, 2006, mine and my family's lives changed forever. My loving and caring boy was taken away from me in a brutal way, a brother was taken away from his brothers and sisters, and a friend taken from his friends.
" I was so proud of Glen and everything he had achieved, he had such great hopes for the future. It is still impossible to understand that he will never achieve these.
"The past seven months have been horrible, the whole family has changed as we have tried to come to terms with the devasting news. Life will never be the same without Glen."
Glen's family and friends have set up the Glen Corner Trust which will provide victim support to families who find themselves in a similar position.
Suzanne said: " No-one should have to go through losing a loved one in such a horrible way. If my experience can help anyone else come to terms with such devasting events then that is my motivation.
" At the moment we are trying to raise as much money as possible so that the project can get up and running. Through Victim Support, The Glen Corner Trust will provide advice and support to anyone else who is a victim of crime."
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Theft of mobile phones and arrests
Police in Newcastle have arrested two 15-year-old youths following two robberies in the Fawdon area yesterday afternoon.
At 3.50pm on Monday, March 5, a 12-year-old boy had his phone taken from him outside Fawdon Metro Station after he was asked for the time.
Ten minutes later a 13-year-old boy had his phone taken, again after being asked for the time, in Jubilee Road, next to Fawdon Service Station.
The two 15-year-olds, who have been released on police bail pending further enquiries, were arrested nearby. A stolen mobile phone was also recovered.
DI Jim Hetherington of Newcastle CID said: " Robbery is a serious charge which is taken seriously by both the police and the courts.
" By taking just a few simple steps you can reduce the risk of becoming a victim of mobile phone theft or robbery.
" We would advise people to keep their phones in a secure pocket or handbag. When used people should keep their wits about them.
"Providing the police with basic information about your phone, like fascia details, phone number, serial/IMEI number, PIN number, service provider and the service provider's telephone number, can help if it's stolen, making it more difficult for a thief to use.
"One of the most important things to do is to make a note of the International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) number. This is a unique 15 digit number to identify individual mobile telephones to a network - effectively the serial number of the phone. It is usually recorded on the box in which the phone is supplied and can also be accessed by keying *#06# on most phones."
If your mobile phone is stolen:
- contact the police immediately, they will record the details of the theft
- contact your mobile phone network service provider which can block the phone
- provide the police with details of the IMEI number. They will record the number on the crime recording system and enable officers to check any mobile phones found in the possession of suspects to see if they are reported stolen.
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