Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor L Bartoli and seconded by Councillor K Barrie that:
Crime and anti-social behaviour have been on the rise in the aftermath of lockdown, Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner has herself admitted that antisocial behaviour in particular is on the rise. Figures show that between April and June last year there was a 101% increase in reports made to Northumbria Police, in comparison to the same period in 2019.
Anti-social behaviour has been a huge problem for our coastal communities, in June 2020 Northumbria Police stepped up patrols in a bid to clamp down on troublemakers following a weekend of anti-social behaviour and litter on North Tyneside's beaches. The Christmas period again saw problems with litter and antisocial behaviour caused by our coastal villages becoming destination spots for groups of drinkers who also flouted our Covid-19 restrictions. With national restrictions now re-imposed this council is concerned that this will be repeated once the latest lockdowns are relaxed without a clear plan to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
We therefore ask the mayor to write to the Police and Crime Commissioner and request more support for our coastal communities as we move out of these national restrictions and to work constructively with all parties to put in place a clear plan to tackle anti-social behaviour along our coastline.
An amendment was moved by Councillor C Johnson and seconded by Councillor J Kirwin as follows:
Delete after
“Crime and anti-social behaviour have been on the rise in the aftermath of lockdown, Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner has herself admitted that antisocial behaviour in particular is on the rise.”
And replace with:
‘’Funding cuts from the Government since 2010 have led to over 1000 officers being cut from the Northumbria police force. North Tyneside Council have invested into tackling anti-social behaviour in our communities with the introduction of a specialist team and officers.
North Tyneside Council has a positive working relationship with various partners including Northumbria Police, Nexus. With funding from Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness the partnership managed to reduce Anti-social behaviour in North Tyneside by 40% in the period of April 2019-2020.
Council therefore asks the Mayor to:
• Note that North Tyneside Council has a clear plan to tackle anti-social behaviour, despite the Council having had over £100 million cut from its budget by the government;
• Write to the police and crime commissioner to thank her for the funding which allowed us to turn Wallsend Customer First Centre (CFC) into a base for local council, police, youth workers, and community protection officers; and
• Write to the government to ask them to increase ring fenced funding to allow Northumbria Police and the Council's community protection team to continue to tackle anti-social behaviour in all communities in the Borough, replacing the money they cut in the last decade.’’
The amendment, on being put to the meeting, was approved by 41 votes to 6 votes.
The motion, as amended, on being put to the meeting, was approved by 44 votes to 6 votes.