Connected to communities we serve

This is my first column of the year so I’d like to start by wishing you all the very best for 2022. From a policing perspective, it’s been a busy start to the year but it’s really encouraging to see the results of some excellent work in and around your communities.

One example of that is Operation Kraken, which you can read about in more detail on this page.

Initiatives such as this involve considerable planning and hard work between various organisations – but crucially it also relies on your support.

We were therefore really pleased to see the positive impact that it’s made in Sunderland city centre – and we are looking forward to building on that.

You may also have read how, as part of that operation, two of our city centre PCs helped save the life of a two-week old baby while they were out on patrol in the Bridges.

They quickly took the panicked mum and her son to Sunderland Royal Hospital by blue lights, and thankfully it was a positive outcome.

This was an outstanding piece of neighbourhood policing.

Our neighbourhood policing teams who you see out and about carry out many different roles, but one of the most vital is helping to make sure we are truly connected to the communities we serve.

Whether it’s tackling reports of anti-social behaviour to supporting vulnerable victims, working with partners to find solutions to issues and preventing crime, the officers, staff and volunteers on these teams are passionate about making a real and lasting difference to people’s lives.

We celebrated their contribution as part of Neighbourhood Policing Week which ran across the UK last week, and I’m incredibly proud of the difference they make to ensure the streets we all live, work and visit remain safe.