Columnist

Setting a new standard in tackling city crime

Newcastle is leading the way in the UK with its proactive and collaborative approach to tackling antisocial behaviour and crime in the city centre.

Together, business improvement district NE1 Ltd, Newcastle City Council and Northumbria Police are celebrating the results of the first anniversary of a partnership called City Safe, which has seen antisocial behaviour fall by almost 15 per cent. 

Within the first six months, City Safe achieved an eight per cent reduction in crime in the city centre, an 11 per cent drop in thefts, a 14 per cent reduction in injury-causing violence and a 27 per cent reduction in vehicle crime.

We launched City Safe in May last year with a dedicated team of officers from Northumbria Police, Newcastle City Council’s community safety team and our NE1 Street Rangers, working together from a base at the City Library. 

The team’s focus is directed at tackling low-level crime, reducing antisocial behaviour, targeting persistent offenders and providing increased access to support services for those committing offences.

One year on, and the results speak for themselves.

While we are celebrating our successes, though, we know there is still more work to be done, and we are not complacent. 

This is just the beginning, and we have ambitious targets for the future.

Businesses across Newcastle have welcomed the changes, and have reported a noticeable drop in antisocial behaviour and crime.

The relationship between the authorities and the business community has also been strengthened by this new approach, and it is at its strongest since I joined NE1 more than ten years ago. 

We know there is still scope for improvement, but building trust and maintaining open dialogue is crucial to the success of the City Safe project, and we are confident we have strong foundations to build on this in the future.  

Our proactive and collaborative partnership approach is starting to deliver results, and by helping to keep the city safe, we’re creating a more welcoming environment for residents, workers and visitors. 

We are now identifying patterns of behaviour and crime hotspots in the city, and have the insight and tools to deal with issues proactively.

Our efforts are also attracting attention from other towns and cities keen to learn from our experience.  

We’re proud of what has been achieved so far and are committed to building on this momentum.

Full credit must be given to the council and the police for their bold and brave leap of faith in launching this pioneering initiative. 

Although a simple concept, it is a departure from conventional practice and ways of working, and could easily have been regarded as too risky. 

Their willingness to innovate has not only broken new ground, but it has also made a genuine and measurable impact, as these results demonstrate. 

We’re now looking forward to the progress we can make in City Safe’s second year.

Tariq Albassam is director of operations at NE1 Ltd

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