The challenge of controlling anti-social behaviour in Jesmond this Christmas has prompted Northumbria Police to step-up its Operation Oak patrols as the party season approaches. 

Operation Oak is part-funded by Northumbria University and the University of Newcastle. Focused in Jesmond and Heaton where there are large student populations, it funds extra police patrols on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights throughout the university term.

However, from November 29 and for the last two weeks of the university term, Operation Oak will be in place across the week: 10pm to 3am on Sundays to Thursdays and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11pm to 5am.

“We base our patrols on the number of incidents we receive about anti-social behaviour,” said a spokesperson from Northumbria Police, who explained that extra patrols were in place for Freshers week in September and will be increased for St Patrick’s Day in March and the end of exams in June.

Residents wishing to report anti-social behaviour during Operation Oak hours are asked to contact the police by text message on 07504898148. Outside hours, they should call 101 or report incidents the following day to the Newcastle City Council Noise team on 0191 278 7878, by email to psr@newcastle.gov.uk or online here.

If you believe the anti-social behaviour is being caused by students, Newcastle University can be contacted by email (caseworkteam@ncl.ac.uk), by phone on 0191 208 3176 or online here.

If the students concerned are from Northumbria, the university can be contacted using the online form here.