Courtesy of slmp.co.uk (Flickr)

Residents are invited to attend a police drop-in session on October 25th 2014, where they can meet their Neighbourhood Policing Team from 11am at Jesmond Library, St George’s Terrace, Jesmond.

These sessions are held on a regular basis and aim to be an informal and relaxed way for local residents to get to know their Neighbourhood Policing Team. These sessions also provide opportunity to enquire about crime prevention tactics whilst providing a safe environment for any policing concerns residents may want to address.

Northumbria Police told JesmondLocal that such meetings are an opportunity not only for residents but also for the police, allowing the latter to consult with the public and ask local residents questions. They are held regularly across the whole of the police force to improve community relationships.

These meetings have welcomed a continual stream of people both who are seeking advice and who simply want to familiarise themselves with their local police force in a relaxed and informal environment. It was however stated that the local police teams are always looking to see more residents at these meetings and residents are strongly recommended to come along and meet the policing teams.

PC Sarah Reveley stated “It’s one of our policing commitments to make sure that local people know who their local officer is and how to contact them.” She continues: “we hope that the sessions are beneficial to the community.”

These meetings started in the early summer of this year and there have already been significant reductions in crime statistics in the Jesmond and Heaton area. In June 2014 the highest crime rating was Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) which was rated at 207, by August 2014 this had dropped to 130 with the overall crime total dropping from 372 in June 2014, to 301 in August 2014.

Furthermore, this year Jesmond has been rated third in the neighbourhood crime league table. These ASB figures will hopefully be further reduced in accordance with the new legislation implemented by Northumberland Police on 20th October 2014 which aims to directly tackle and reduced incidents of Anti-social behaviour.

Looking forwards, another police drop in session has been scheduled for November 30th 2014, again at 11am. The change in venue should be noted as at Millfield House, Pet’s Corner, Jesmond Dene. In case any residents are unable to attend these sessions there is a comprehensive list of the meetings on the Northumbria Police website: http://www.northumbria.police.uk/your_neighbourhood/newcastle/east/ under local events and meetings.