Thanks for showing that ‘can do’ spirit

It has been a challenging time for all our communities as we work together to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

The restrictions have had a significant impact on residents and businesses across Sunderland and South Tyneside, and nowhere has this been more obvious than in our town and city centres, which have been the quietest they have been in years.

But this adversity has brought out the best of this region – and we know the people of the North-East are famed for their resilience, ‘can-do’ attitude and community spirit.

I’d like to thank everybody who continues to adhere to the legislation and guidance in place, and as some of the lockdown restrictions start to ease, it’s important to reiterate our role as a force will remain the same.

We will continue to engage with our residents, encourage people to follow the rules and reason with them – as my team do every single day to resolve a wide range of issues.

This weekend is expected to be a sunny one, so I would ask those enjoying exercise or relaxation at our coastal resorts to continue behaving responsibly and think of others.

Earlier this week, we dealt with an incident in Frenchman’s Bay where a large number of schoolchildren were seen jumping from the high cliffs into the waters below.

It might be seen as just a bit of fun, but is incredibly dangerous and could take crucial bluelight resources away from other life-threatening emergencies.

My officers will continue to patrol our coastal areas over the coming days to reinforce that message. Thanks for your continued support