Newcastle Labour is backing a six-week summer campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour in Lemington, with the council, police and partner organisations working together to respond to concerns raised by residents.
Operation McPhee gets under way today and will target neighbourhood hotspots where anti-social behaviour has been causing problems for local communities.
In Lemington, particular attention is being given to criminal damage around Hadrian’s Cycleway, alongside wider problems including graffiti, littering, public drinking and the anti-social use of motorcycles.
The operation brings together Newcastle City Council, Northumbria Police and other partner organisations to provide a coordinated response throughout the summer holidays.
Officers will increase their presence in hotspot areas while council teams and partners work to tackle environmental problems and reassure residents that concerns are being taken seriously.
The campaign will target behaviour including criminal damage, graffiti, littering, public drinking and drug use, large gatherings causing intimidation or nuisance and the dangerous or anti-social use of motorcycles.
Alongside enforcement, Operation McPhee will include work with young people to explain the consequences anti-social behaviour can have for residents and the wider community.
Labour believes residents should be able to enjoy their neighbourhood without persistent anti-social behaviour damaging public spaces or making people feel unsafe.
The six-week operation will allow police and council teams to focus resources on the locations where residents are reporting the greatest problems while continuing longer-term work to prevent anti-social behaviour.
Cllr Stephen Lambert, Newcastle City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Transport, said: “Anti-social behaviour can have a devastating impact on communities and we know residents want to see action taken when problems arise.
“Operation McPhee brings the council, police and our partners together so that we can target the places where residents are telling us there are problems.
“In Lemington that includes tackling criminal damage around Hadrian’s Cycleway, alongside the wider anti-social behaviour which can make people’s lives a misery.
“Enforcement is important, but so is prevention. By combining a visible presence with work involving young people and communities, we want to tackle problems now while helping prevent them happening again.”