Gateshead town centre to introduce new safety measures for spring
A project that has helped levels of anti-social behaviour in Gateshead town centre to plummet is helping to launch new additional safety measures for spring.
Since Project Shield launched across the Northumbria Police area in July 2024, it has been hailed a success by all local authorities and transport network partners.
Data from this year so far shows that across all the hotspot areas, ASB has fallen by an impressive 24% thanks to high visibility patrols, strengthened partnership work and problem-solving intervention and engagement activities.
In Gateshead, this has included:
- The recruitment of three town centre ambassadors, the council is continuing to fund the contracts to continue visible support in the area
- The launch of the WalkSafe app, which can be used by students living in, and people visiting, the town centre to find information on safe spaces and walking routes
Now, the council is announcing plans to continue this work into spring. This will include the introduction of the Safer POD® S1 intruder detection system, in partnership with Safer Group, which has proven successful in deterring anti-social behaviour and retail crime in other areas of the North East, and spray to protect new artwork at the Interchange and other areas from public urination.
Councillor Angela Douglas, Chair of the Gateshead Community Safety Board, said: "Gateshead town centre is being transformed for our communities, and we can only make our ambitions for the area possible if it's safe and welcoming for everyone.
We've been doing a huge amount of work to make the town cleaner and brighter with public artworks - which we'll be protecting with anti-urine spray in the next few weeks.
We're also pleased to be introducing the Safer POD® S1, protecting businesses and travellers in our transport hubs by making people think twice about their behaviour in our public spaces, using funding from Project Shield."
Ryan Clark, Safer Group Chief Executive, said: "Safer Group are delighted to work with Gateshead Council and Northumbria Police to bring the Safer POD® S1 to Gateshead.
The solution has enjoyed unprecedented success in addressing challenges faced by constabularies across the UK, including groundbreaking reductions in crime during deployments with Durham and Merseyside police forces. These collaborations highlight the transformative impact that our devices can create for Gateshead businesses and the wider community."
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth said: "Gateshead has really embraced Project Shield and the benefits of the joint working hotspot approach working closely with police and transport partners. All the work that has gone into Project Shield in the area has paid off - helping achieve significant reductions in ASB, which I know have been noticed and welcomed by local people.
As well as the increased visibility and engagement there've been some great problem-solving initiatives in the area, and Safer Group's Safer POD® S1 is the latest example of this - trying something new to make an impact. Over the last few weeks my office has been working up plans around how we take Project Shield forward so we can keep building on good work like this to deliver safer streets and stronger communities."
A project that has helped levels of anti-social behaviour in Gateshead town centre to plummet is helping to launch new additional safety measures for spring.
Since Project Shield launched across the Northumbria Police area in July 2024, it has been hailed a success by all local authorities and transport network partners.
Data from this year so far shows that across all the hotspot areas, ASB has fallen by an impressive 24% thanks to high visibility patrols, strengthened partnership work and problem-solving intervention and engagement activities.
In Gateshead, this has included:
- The recruitment of three town centre ambassadors, the council is continuing to fund the contracts to continue visible support in the area
- The launch of the WalkSafe app, which can be used by students living in, and people visiting, the town centre to find information on safe spaces and walking routes
Now, the council is announcing plans to continue this work into spring. This will include the introduction of the Safer POD® S1 intruder detection system, in partnership with Safer Group, which has proven successful in deterring anti-social behaviour and retail crime in other areas of the North East, and spray to protect new artwork at the Interchange and other areas from public urination.
Councillor Angela Douglas, Chair of the Gateshead Community Safety Board, said: "Gateshead town centre is being transformed for our communities, and we can only make our ambitions for the area possible if it's safe and welcoming for everyone.
We've been doing a huge amount of work to make the town cleaner and brighter with public artworks - which we'll be protecting with anti-urine spray in the next few weeks.
We're also pleased to be introducing the Safer POD® S1, protecting businesses and travellers in our transport hubs by making people think twice about their behaviour in our public spaces, using funding from Project Shield."
Ryan Clark, Safer Group Chief Executive, said: "Safer Group are delighted to work with Gateshead Council and Northumbria Police to bring the Safer POD® S1 to Gateshead.
The solution has enjoyed unprecedented success in addressing challenges faced by constabularies across the UK, including groundbreaking reductions in crime during deployments with Durham and Merseyside police forces. These collaborations highlight the transformative impact that our devices can create for Gateshead businesses and the wider community."
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth said: "Gateshead has really embraced Project Shield and the benefits of the joint working hotspot approach working closely with police and transport partners. All the work that has gone into Project Shield in the area has paid off - helping achieve significant reductions in ASB, which I know have been noticed and welcomed by local people.
As well as the increased visibility and engagement there've been some great problem-solving initiatives in the area, and Safer Group's Safer POD® S1 is the latest example of this - trying something new to make an impact. Over the last few weeks my office has been working up plans around how we take Project Shield forward so we can keep building on good work like this to deliver safer streets and stronger communities."
