CRACKDOWN ON CITY CENTRE YOB GANGS
Undercover cops and patrols to combat teen trouble
Plain clothes cops will be clamping down on teenagers causing havoc in Sunderland.
Launched this week, neighbourhood officers will be targeting youth disorder in a number of hot spots, including Sunderland City Centre and The Galleries in Washington, as part of Operation Constellate.
Police will use both criminal and civil legislation to tackle any trouble and take action against ringleaders believed to be causing misery to residents and businesses.
The operation will be supported by partners including Youth Offending Teams and Nexus.
Neighbourhood Inspector Jamie Southwell, of Northumbria Police, said: “This week residents across Sunderland will see officers out and about in the areas where the operation is running, in a bid to nip any antisocial behaviour in the bud.
“It may only be a minority of individuals who get involved in antisocial behaviour, but their actions can have a significant effect on residents who can be made to feel intimidated or frightened in their own home.
“This operation aims to tackle any reports made to us and take action against those making life a misery for others.
“Our activity will focus around areas where we have seen reports of antisocial behaviour in the past, as well as many of the region’s transport hubs.
“Officers will look to take appropriate action against anybody found to be in- volved in criminal activity, and youngsters involved in antisocial behaviour will be taken home to their parents and spoken to about their conduct.
“We would ask parents to please make sure you know where your children are on an evening.”
Coun Michael Mordey, deputy leader of Sunderland City Council and chairman of the Safer Sunderland Partnership, said he was pleased to offer support.
He said: “I know from meeting residents and hearing from businesses, there’s been concerns around these large gatherings and the antisocial behaviour that they can generate. It’s behaviour that will not be tolerated.”
Sharon Appleby at Sunderland Bid, said: “We regularly work with the police on these types of operations and we do see significant benefit in the city centre when they are taking place.
“It would appear that this is what we now need to do to tackle the anti-social behavior that is taking place and we will support the operations in any way we can.”
“There’s been concerns around large gatherings” MICHAEL MORDEY