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Crackdown on bad behaviour at North East coast

AUSTEN SHAKESPEARE Local Democracy Reporter austen.shakespeare@ncjmedia.co.uk

PLANS are under way to tackle summer peaks of anti-social behaviour along the coast in North Tyneside.

‘Operation Coastwatch’ will see Northumbria Police, North Tyneside Council and Nexus collaborate to stamp out anti-social behaviour as the warmer weather starts to arrive.

Richard Mitchell, community and public space manager at North Tyneside Council, said: “Operation Coastwatch is an important part of the work we do to keep North Tyneside a safe place to live, work and visit. The operation has successfully reduced anti-social behaviour in recent years and has now evolved into part of our everyday work, and we will be stepping up our plans as the warmer weather approaches.

“We look forward to working with Northumbria Police, Nexus and community volunteers again this summer to ensure that the coast remains a safe and enjoyable destination for all.”

In July 2022, ‘Operation Coastwatch’ assisted in apprehending four men concerning an incident in Cullerocats where a young man was chased into the sea at knifepoint. The men, aged 23, 21, 20, and 17, were questioned and released under investigation. In December 2022 a teenage boy was cautioned in connection to the incident.

A Nexus spokesperson said: “We look forward to working with the police and our local authority partners on Operation Coastwatch again this year.

“Our services are well used in the summer for days out at the North Tyneside coast, and Metro is a key gateway for people heading to popular local beaches. We always ensure there are extra staff and police on patrol. The aim is to provide that reassuring presence for people who do need to travel and to deal with any issues of anti-social behaviour and fare evasion. Disorder will not be tolerated. We have already invested in extra security teams on Metro and they will have a big part to play over the summer, keeping customers safe and dealing with any issues that arise.”

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2023-03-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

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