1. Community News Police News
Consett Neighbourhood Police Team
Area: Benfieldside, Blackhill, Bridgehill,
and Shotley Bridge
Date: 7th April 2016
Community News
Upcoming events and schemes in your community:
Missing Child Alert ( Part of the interview by Metro Radio ):
Durham Police have launched a new way of finding missing kids, by sending a text from school.
Last year 22 children, as young as three years old, were reported missing in Consett, Stanley and Chester-Le-Street alone. However, police say that in many cases other parents hold vital information in the whereabouts of missing children.
If a child is reported as missing out of school hours, over 225 primary schools across County Durham will have the facility to send a text message to all parents if contacted by police, just like you’d get if the school had to close for the day, to see if they can help. This will depend on the location of the where the child was reported as missing, and which schools are nearby. Once the child is located a further message will be sent to parents to let them know.
PSCO Marie Garfoot thought up the idea after a child went missing in Police deployed all available officers and the 10 year old returned home oblivious to the search. She had become friends with another child at school and her parents did not know about the friendship.
It is believed the new system could be lifesaving and help tackle more serious issues such as child abduction and child sexual exploitation. She continued:
“The children are very vulnerable at that age [Age three to 11]. Child sexual exploitation to the NSPCC in the last year has increased by 270%. That’s a massive figure and I know that these incidents are becoming more and more alarming.”
Police News
Local community:
Off road bikes: As the weather has become warmer and nights lighter, we are experiencing an increase in calls regarding Off road Bike Incidents. We are taking action to identify those involved.
Over the past month there have been 17 incidents reported of Off road Bikes. 7 Traffic 183’s have been handed out to those caught using their bikes illegally.
Once a Traffic 183 is issued, a Traffic 184 will be issued if the rider is caught again within a 12 month period. At that stage the bike is seized and is never returned to the owner.
An operation has been set up with the Off road Police Bikes, to combat this problem.
If any resident sees any off road bikes being ridden illegally, please report this and give a description of the rider (s) and the bike. A database has been set up, which is collating description of bikes and riders, to try to identify those involved.
A male from the Durham Road area of Blackhill has been issued with a Traffic 183 notice on 01/04/2016 after being involved in 2 recent incidents.

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Incidents:
08/03/2016 – Three windows in the bus shelter on the corner of Durham Rd and Pleasant View were broken by 3 males. The damage was reported to the Council who repaired them.
10/03/2016 – Youths were reported breaking glass bottles near a residents house. An area search did not identify any youths.
30/03/2016 – Youths believed responsible for taking fence panels from a private residential property currently under renovation on West Acre. The youths were challenged at the time before running off. The fence panels have been recovered and enquiries are continuing.
Key Messages
Engagement with our local Communities:
Sweethart’s Café - We have arranged with the manager, of Sweethart’s café, to have a regular drop in session when they move to their new premises on Durham Road, Blackhill. Beat Officers will be in attendance along with Council Neighbourhood Wardens so that anyone can come along and have a chat with us. We hope to start this once the new premises are open in May or June time. Hopefully on a Thursday or Friday. We will advertise this locally, and on social media.
Please note, a member of your local Policing Team will continue to attend the BB&SB (Blackhill Bridgehill and Shotley Bridge) Partnership meetings held at the Baptist Church.
Community Speed watch - See below results for Community Speed watch activity that has been carried out in the area during March.
 A691 Blackhill Durham Rd  to 0935  95 vehicles passed 2 speeding
 Blackhill queens Rd  -  0940 to 1000   81 vehicles passed 2 speeding
 Blackhill Woodlands Rd - unable to operate road works
 B6310  Shotley Bridge  Summer Hill  to 1030   38 vehicles passed 1 speeding
 A691 Shotley Bridge Cutlers Hall Rd   to 1100   64 vehicles passed 9 speeding
Useful Contacts
Durham County Council: stray dogs, street cleaning, litter and dog fouling, graffiti, fly tipping Derwentside Homes: or
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