Week of Action to be Held by Police and Partners in Netherfields
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A week of action is taking place in the Netherfields area of Middlesbrough from Monday 22nd April, following recent concerns raised by residents around antisocial behaviour and crime.
Police and partners from Middlesbrough Council and Thirteen will attend the area along with colleagues from youth services. The Cleveland Police engagement van will be in the area for residents to attend and speak with their local neighbourhood team.
Over recent weeks there has been action taken by police and partners in response to reports of antisocial behaviour, vandalism and crime in the area, particularly around Vaughan Shops.
A number of dispersal orders were put in place, giving officers the power to order large groups to leave the area and not return for 48 hours, or face arrest. Officially, 25 youths were ordered to the leave the area under the powers, whilst another 20 left after being asked by officers.
Parents have been spoken with in regards to their children’s behaviour and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts will be issued, which, if breached, can lead to more powerful action by the courts.
An 11-year-old boy has been referred to the Youth Offending Team after an incident of criminal damage was reported on Thursday 4th April in Fosdyke Green, when there was a report of a vehicle window being smashed by a rock, narrowly missing an elderly couple aged 76 and 80. Thankfully they were unharmed.
The boy was interviewed voluntarily and will now be referred to the Youth Offending Team and issued an Antisocial Behaviour Contract for six months.
Two boys aged 12 and 17 were arrested after breaching the dispersal order and one young person will be subject to an application for a civil injunction to be heard at Youth Court later this month.
Housing providers Thirteen Group have issued first warnings to tenants who have children who have been involved in the antisocial behaviour, and if this continues or escalates then enforcement action can be taken, including possession of the property.
Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Chris Hartshorne said: “Whilst the multi-agency action taken in response to complaints from the public looks to have made some impact, and reports of this behaviour have been reducing more recently, we are not complacent and will continue to tackle the unacceptable behaviour of a minority of people who are intent on causing misery to the local communities in Netherfields.
“We also ask for parents help in appealing to them to know where there children are and what they are doing; this isn’t just a police issue and we are committed to stopping this behaviour which is causing great concern in the local community.”
Marion Walker, Head of Stronger Communities at Middlesbrough Council, said: “Alongside our colleagues at Cleveland Police, we’ve worked hard to respond to serious issues reported in Netherfields and our officers have visited the parents of youths who we’ve identified as being involved.
“These families need to understand that this behaviour is unacceptable, and we won’t tolerate it.
“We’ve made some progress, but we won’t stop supporting Netherfields residents and have worked with partners to launch a week of action to continue the fight against crime and antisocial behaviour.”
Thirteen’s anti-social behaviour resolution lead, Luke Metcalfe, said: “Our absolute priority is the safety and wellbeing of our customers and those living in communities, like this in Netherfields. We won’t tolerate anti-social behaviour. Every report is taken seriously because we know that it causes distress on the local community.
“We would like to reassure local residents that we’re working with partner agencies to tackle the issues head on and identify those who are responsible. We want our customers to feel safe in their homes, and we are taking action and progressing with tenancy enforcement action where it’s necessary.”