Fens and Greatham

Tackling Rural Crime and Protecting Our Rural Communities

Rural crime continues to be a significant concern for residents, farmers, landowners, and businesses across Elwick, Dalton Piercy, and Hart Village. Due to the isolated nature of these communities, offences such as theft, criminal damage, trespassing, fly-tipping, off-road bike nuisance, and suspicious activity can have a considerable impact
on both livelihoods and the sense of safety felt by those living and working in rural areas. Through ongoing community engagement, local farm owners and rural residents have identified rural crime as a key priority and one which Cleveland Police will continue to proactively address.
Our priority is to prevent crime, protect rural businesses and communities, and target those responsible for causing harm. We recognise that rural areas can be attractive targets for travelling criminals who seek to exploit remote locations to commit offences. Through Operation Checkpoint and close collaboration with neighbouring police forces and partner agencies, we will continue to identify, disrupt, and deter offenders operating across force boundaries. Sharing intelligence and working collectively strengthens our ability to prevent crime and respond quickly to emerging threats.
Strong engagement with the rural community remains central to our approach. We continue to attend and support regular rural crime meetings, providing opportunities for farmers, landowners, residents, and partners to raise concerns, share information, and influence policing priorities. These meetings help us understand local issues, identify crime trends, and ensure that our resources are focused where they are needed most.
The anti-social use of off-road bikes remains a particular concern for many rural residents. These vehicles can cause significant damage to farmland, disturb livestock, damage crops, and create safety risks for walkers, horse riders, and local communities. Working alongside specialist teams, including our drone unit, we will continue to carry out targeted patrols and enforcement activity in identified hotspot locations. Utilising technology and intelligence-led policing enables us to cover large rural areas effectively and identify those responsible.
Alongside enforcement, we continue to provide crime prevention advice and support to farms and rural businesses, helping them reduce opportunities for offending and protect valuable equipment, livestock, and property.
Through proactive policing, community engagement, intelligence-sharing, and strong partnership working, Cleveland Police remains committed to reducing rural crime, tackling off-road bike nuisance, and ensuring that residents of Elwick, Dalton Piercy, and Hart Village feel safe, supported, and confident within their rural communities.

Reducing Anti-Social Behaviour in Our Communities linked to Parks and play areas

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) continues to be a priority concern raised by residents, businesses, and partner agencies across the ward. Local feedback highlights the ongoing impact that nuisance behaviour, intimidation, vandalism, noise, and disorder can have on the quality of life of those living and working within our communities. Particular concerns have been raised regarding anti-social behaviour occurring in and around local play parks and surrounding open spaces, which should be safe and welcoming environments for families, children, and residents to enjoy.
Play parks and recreational areas are important community assets, but reports of groups gathering to engage in anti-social behaviour, littering, alcohol consumption, damage to equipment, noise nuisance, and other forms of disorder can discourage legitimate use of these spaces and negatively affect local residents. Cleveland Police recognises the impact these issues have on public confidence and will continue to work proactively with partners to address concerns and improve community safety.
Our neighbourhood policing teams will conduct high-visibility patrols in identified hotspot locations, including play parks and surrounding areas where ASB has been reported. Through targeted patrols, proactive engagement, and intelligence-led deployments, we will seek to deter offending behaviour, identify those responsible for causing harm, and provide reassurance to residents. Community information remains vital in helping us direct resources effectively and respond to emerging issues.
We will continue to work closely with local authority teams, housing providers, schools, youth services, and community organisations to address the underlying causes of anti-social behaviour. Providing young people with positive opportunities, education, and diversionary activities plays a key role in preventing behaviour from escalating and reducing repeat incidents. Early intervention and engagement remain essential in supporting young people to make informed and positive choices.
Where individuals persistently engage in anti-social behaviour, appropriate enforcement action will be taken. This may include the use of Community Protection Notices, Criminal Behaviour Orders, tenancy enforcement measures, and other available powers to protect residents and prevent ongoing harm.
By combining proactive policing, early intervention, education, and strong partnership working, we aim to reduce anti-social behaviour across the ward, particularly within play parks and community spaces. Our goal is to ensure these areas remain safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone while improving public confidence and helping residents feel safe within their neighbourhoods.

Tackling Speeding and Anti-Social Driving

Speeding and anti-social driving continue to be concerns raised by residents within Greatham Village, with the community highlighting the impact that excessive speed, dangerous driving, unnecessary vehicle noise, and poor driving standards have on the safety and quality of life of those living in the village. Residents have reported concerns that these behaviours place pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users at risk, while also affecting the peaceful nature of the community and creating fears around road safety.
Cleveland Police recognises the concerns raised by residents and remains committed to tackling speeding and anti-social driving through a combination of enforcement, education, engagement, and partnership working. Protecting the community and ensuring that roads are used safely and responsibly remains a key priority for neighbourhood policing teams and partner agencies.
Community Speedwatch initiatives have been undertaken within the area to help identify problem locations and gather information regarding speeding vehicles. These schemes allow residents to play an active role in highlighting concerns and helping direct police and partner resources to where they are most needed. Information provided by the community continues to support our understanding of local issues and assists in developing targeted responses.
Working alongside our specialist Matrix officers and road safety partners, ongoing operations are being carried out to address speeding and anti-social vehicle use within and around Greatham Village. These proactive activities focus on both enforcement and education, ensuring that drivers understand the consequences of unsafe behaviour while taking appropriate action against those who continue to disregard the safety of others. Where offences are identified, enforcement action will be considered, including warnings, fixed penalty notices, reporting offences for prosecution, and other appropriate measures.
In addition to improving road safety, this work also supports wider efforts to deny criminals the use of the road network. By proactively targeting vehicles, conducting intelligence-led patrols, and disrupting those using the roads for criminal purposes, we can help prevent wider offending and improve safety within the community.
Community support remains vital to the success of this priority. We encourage residents to continue reporting concerns and providing information about vehicle-related issues affecting the village. This intelligence helps us target resources effectively and identify emerging problems at an early stage.
Through continued partnership working, Community Speedwatch activity, proactive policing, and the support of Matrix officers, we will continue to tackle speeding and anti-social driving, improve road safety, deny criminals the use of the roads, and ensure that Greatham Village remains a safe and welcoming place for residents and visitors alike.