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How police helped change Gateshead street where parents were afraid to let their kids go out

Left terrified by the crime and anti-social behaviour on their troubled street, parents on one Tyneside road were too afraid to let their kids out the house. But this Halloween, for the first time in several years, youngsters living on Sheraton, on Gateshead's Leam Lane estate were able to safely go trick-or-treating once again after police took action on those making life a misery for their neighbours. Life became miserable for law-abiding families on the street after several criminals were housed on the street. Things got so bad that police feared that some residents may want to take the law into their own hands. But Northumbria Police's Neighbourhood Sergeant Gateshead East, Andrew Hyde, said he asked locals to put their trust in police and pledged to turn things round in just four months. After gathering evidence, officers were able to work with Gateshead Council to secure closure orders on two properties, banning troublesome tenants from returning. And today Sgt Hyde has lifted the lid on his team's work to improve life on the street. He said: "On Sheraton the residents were quite angry towards the police and the council. Life was miserable for some of the residents. "We were doing door knocks and people were breaking down in tears. I needed something to be done. "When you have got grown adults crying in front of you, you know there's a problem. In the community's time of crisis they had to put their trust in us. "Anti-social behaviour isn't seen as low level anymore, it has a massive impact." Police first discovered the scale of the problem on Sheraton when a number of residents turned up to one of their regular community meetings, at Leam Lane Family Hub, in April. "Normally we get one or two people turning up, but at this one there was quite a few people turned up" Sgt Hyde said. "They all said anti-social behaviour was high, drug dealing was happening, drug use was going on. Residents were saying they didn't feel safe in their community." Residents also reported problems with off-road motorcycles in the area. Sgt Hyde asked the residents to give his team four months to make a difference. Together with Neighbourhood PC Michael Illot, Sgt Hyde went out to speak to residents on the street to find out what was going on. "Residents in Sheraton felt they didn't feel safe on an evening. Some residents reported being verbally abused by a resident on the street," he said. "You could see the issue on Sheraton was a lot of criminals housed so close to one another. I said to the residents, 'give me four months and I'll come back to you.'" And PC Illot said: "It was like a toxic mix that you get in prison." After looking at crime statistics for the area, the police team came up with a plan to sort things out. "We secured some funding from Gateshead Council of about £11,000," Sgt Hyde explained. "The reason we got that was to look at increasing visible resources in the community during peak times. "As a result of that, it helped us gather statements and intelligence. We obtained over 25 statements from residents." While on Sheraton, Sgt Hyde met one man who felt like he had to come to the street every day to make sure his elderly mother was ok. "There's some bungalows with elderly residents," he explained. "A guy pulled up and said he comes to check on his mam on a daily basis just to make sure she was ok. "When some gentleman is wanting to check on his elderly mam daily I know there's an issue." Spending time on the street enabled officers to gather evidence and intelligence about what was happening. This resulted in a wave of arrests. Officers were also able to obtain the statements and evidence they needed to work with Gateshead Council to apply for the closure orders at two homes linked to anti-social behaviour and crime. A closure order prevents anyone from entering a property, except from employees and agents of the landlord, members of the council or the emergency services. Anyone who accesses the property unlawfully can be arrested. At a community meeting in October, residents reported that life had improved on Sheraton. "We held a community meeting on October 8 and there was 40 or 50 people there," Sgt Hyde said. "I invited the Chief Constable, she came along and heard first hand from the residents. "People were telling us they were starting to feel safer in their community. "There's still a lot of work to be done. The most important thing to tell the residents was that we are not going to walk away. "But people are starting to feel safe. People could take their kids trick-or-treating and the residents are now looking to have a street party. "By putting resources into Sheraton everyday for three months it's worked. Ninety nine per cent of residents in that community are good residents and are very appreciative of the hard work. "It didn't happen overnight. It has been resource-intense, but clearly it's been rewarding." And PC Illott added: "This can be replicated anywhere. Initially residents didn't trust us but by showing we care and that we are there the residents started to trust us. "I try to think, if it was myself or my family, what would I do." Sheraton has now been made a "sensitive let" area, meaning that police are able to vet any prospective new tenants before they are housed on the street. Sgt Hyde said: "Any new tenants to be housed there will go through the police so we can identify if they are going to be a problem." One resident, who has lived on Sheraton for 40 years, described what life was life before the police intervention. "It was an absolute nightmare, that's how bad it got. I just didn't want my family to suffer," he said. "I have got two grandkids living up the street. They were frightened to come down. "It got to the stage where my daughter couldn't walk down the street and my wife couldn't walk up the street." But the 61-year-old, who did not want to be named, said he was finally starting to relax. "For the first time in two years the kids have been trick-or-treating. The kids were frightened, it was horrible. Andrew and Michael have been unbelievable," he said. "It's just got to the point where we are not jumping up at the slightest noise. In the last three months it's been unreal. "I feel like I haven't got to worry about looking after my daughter and looking after my wife. It's completely changed the street. "This has brought the street together. We are getting back to the way we were, thank God. I'm getting on with life. "I don't want to be arguing and fighting. I just want my grandkids to be able to play in the street." The improvements have also been reflected in recent crime figures. Gateshead East Neighbourhood Policing Team has recorded a reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour in the Leam Lane area, following the dedicated work. Figures show a 33% drop in reported crimes and anti-social behaviour at Sheraton and nearby Fewster Square over the last four months. The number of crimes fell from 158 to 106, with reductions in theft, public order offences and assaults. Coun Angela Douglas, chair of the Gateshead Community Safety Board, said: "The action taken in Leam Lane to crack down on anti-social behaviour, including closure orders on two council properties, showcases excellent partnership working with the police and residents. Our communities play a crucial role in putting a stop to crime and anti-social activity, and I hope that the action taken in Leam Lane encourages more people to be proactive in reporting concerns about community safety. We will listen, and we will take action."

Sophie Doughty •
How police helped change Gateshead street where parents were afraid to let their kids go out

Left terrified by the crime and anti-social behaviour on their troubled street, parents on one Tyneside road were too afraid to let their kids out the house. But this Halloween, for the first time in several years, youngsters living on Sheraton, on Gateshead's Leam Lane estate were able to safely go trick-or-treating once again after police took action on those making life a misery for their neighbours. Life became miserable for law-abiding families on the street after several criminals were housed on the street. Things got so bad that police feared that some residents may want to take the law into their own hands. But Northumbria Police's Neighbourhood Sergeant Gateshead East, Andrew Hyde, said he asked locals to put their trust in police and pledged to turn things round in just four months. After gathering evidence, officers were able to work with Gateshead Council to secure closure orders on two properties, banning troublesome tenants from returning. And today Sgt Hyde has lifted the lid on his team's work to improve life on the street. He said: "On Sheraton the residents were quite angry towards the police and the council. Life was miserable for some of the residents. "We were doing door knocks and people were breaking down in tears. I needed something to be done. "When you have got grown adults crying in front of you, you know there's a problem. In the community's time of crisis they had to put their trust in us. "Anti-social behaviour isn't seen as low level anymore, it has a massive impact." Police first discovered the scale of the problem on Sheraton when a number of residents turned up to one of their regular community meetings, at Leam Lane Family Hub, in April. "Normally we get one or two people turning up, but at this one there was quite a few people turned up" Sgt Hyde said. "They all said anti-social behaviour was high, drug dealing was happening, drug use was going on. Residents were saying they didn't feel safe in their community." Residents also reported problems with off-road motorcycles in the area. Sgt Hyde asked the residents to give his team four months to make a difference. Together with Neighbourhood PC Michael Illot, Sgt Hyde went out to speak to residents on the street to find out what was going on. "Residents in Sheraton felt they didn't feel safe on an evening. Some residents reported being verbally abused by a resident on the street," he said. "You could see the issue on Sheraton was a lot of criminals housed so close to one another. I said to the residents, 'give me four months and I'll come back to you.'" And PC Illot said: "It was like a toxic mix that you get in prison." After looking at crime statistics for the area, the police team came up with a plan to sort things out. "We secured some funding from Gateshead Council of about £11,000," Sgt Hyde explained. "The reason we got that was to look at increasing visible resources in the community during peak times. "As a result of that, it helped us gather statements and intelligence. We obtained over 25 statements from residents." While on Sheraton, Sgt Hyde met one man who felt like he had to come to the street every day to make sure his elderly mother was ok. "There's some bungalows with elderly residents," he explained. "A guy pulled up and said he comes to check on his mam on a daily basis just to make sure she was ok. "When some gentleman is wanting to check on his elderly mam daily I know there's an issue." Spending time on the street enabled officers to gather evidence and intelligence about what was happening. This resulted in a wave of arrests. Officers were also able to obtain the statements and evidence they needed to work with Gateshead Council to apply for the closure orders at two homes linked to anti-social behaviour and crime. A closure order prevents anyone from entering a property, except from employees and agents of the landlord, members of the council or the emergency services. Anyone who accesses the property unlawfully can be arrested. At a community meeting in October, residents reported that life had improved on Sheraton. "We held a community meeting on October 8 and there was 40 or 50 people there," Sgt Hyde said. "I invited the Chief Constable, she came along and heard first hand from the residents. "People were telling us they were starting to feel safer in their community. "There's still a lot of work to be done. The most important thing to tell the residents was that we are not going to walk away. "But people are starting to feel safe. People could take their kids trick-or-treating and the residents are now looking to have a street party. "By putting resources into Sheraton everyday for three months it's worked. Ninety nine per cent of residents in that community are good residents and are very appreciative of the hard work. "It didn't happen overnight. It has been resource-intense, but clearly it's been rewarding." And PC Illott added: "This can be replicated anywhere. Initially residents didn't trust us but by showing we care and that we are there the residents started to trust us. "I try to think, if it was myself or my family, what would I do." Sheraton has now been made a "sensitive let" area, meaning that police are able to vet any prospective new tenants before they are housed on the street. Sgt Hyde said: "Any new tenants to be housed there will go through the police so we can identify if they are going to be a problem." One resident, who has lived on Sheraton for 40 years, described what life was life before the police intervention. "It was an absolute nightmare, that's how bad it got. I just didn't want my family to suffer," he said. "I have got two grandkids living up the street. They were frightened to come down. "It got to the stage where my daughter couldn't walk down the street and my wife couldn't walk up the street." But the 61-year-old, who did not want to be named, said he was finally starting to relax. "For the first time in two years the kids have been trick-or-treating. The kids were frightened, it was horrible. Andrew and Michael have been unbelievable," he said. "It's just got to the point where we are not jumping up at the slightest noise. In the last three months it's been unreal. "I feel like I haven't got to worry about looking after my daughter and looking after my wife. It's completely changed the street. "This has brought the street together. We are getting back to the way we were, thank God. I'm getting on with life. "I don't want to be arguing and fighting. I just want my grandkids to be able to play in the street." The improvements have also been reflected in recent crime figures. Gateshead East Neighbourhood Policing Team has recorded a reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour in the Leam Lane area, following the dedicated work. Figures show a 33% drop in reported crimes and anti-social behaviour at Sheraton and nearby Fewster Square over the last four months. The number of crimes fell from 158 to 106, with reductions in theft, public order offences and assaults. Coun Angela Douglas, chair of the Gateshead Community Safety Board, said: "The action taken in Leam Lane to crack down on anti-social behaviour, including closure orders on two council properties, showcases excellent partnership working with the police and residents. Our communities play a crucial role in putting a stop to crime and anti-social activity, and I hope that the action taken in Leam Lane encourages more people to be proactive in reporting concerns about community safety. We will listen, and we will take action."

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