Working with our partners to make our communities safer by tackling crime and anti-social behaviour

A multi-agency approach continues to be central to tackling street drinking and associated antisocial behaviour (ASB) in Gateshead Town Centre. Through collaboration with Gateshead Council, we’ve introduced Town Ambassadors and established a dedicated Town Centre Policing Team to ensure consistency and visibility. We're now 18 months into a structured POP (Problem-Oriented Policing) plan targeting public order offences, theft from shops, and ASB. Monthly partnership meetings provide an opportunity to engage with local stakeholders, share progress, and align on future priorities.

Protect vulnerable people from serious violent crime

The increase in street drinking exposed numerous vulnerable individuals within the town centre. We’ve worked closely with local drug and alcohol services to ensure support is available, offering direct referrals and regular outreach. Civil interventions, including injunctions and tailored support plans, have helped reduce harm and steer individuals away from abusive behaviour and exploitation.

Prevent harm to individuals and our communities caused by the misuse of drugs and alcohol

Street drinking led to daily violence and intimidation in public spaces. We responded by implementing targeted enforcement strategies, including civil orders and tenancy interventions where appropriate. Education and diversionary initiatives are being run in collaboration with drug/alcohol treatment services to reduce relapse and encourage recovery. There has been a marked reduction in repeated incidents at hotspot locations like Jackson Street and Trinity Square.

Reduce the harm caused to our communities by organised crime groups

While the town centre issues aren’t directly linked to OCG activity, we’ve ensured our policing and intelligence-led efforts are aligned to wider objectives. Regular briefings, joint tasking meetings, and early disruption tactics have been embedded to prevent any OCG exploitation of vulnerable individuals drawn into street-level ASB or substance misuse.