A new base for police and youth workers is being set up in Wallsend in a bid to keep local youths on the straight and narrow.
This comes after crackdowns earlier this year, which saw parents of tear away teens in Killingworth, Forest Hall and Wallsend warned they could be evicted from their homes if they don't get their kids under control.
A glass bottle thrown at a woman's head, rocks being chucked at cars, arson, burglary and a racially motivated public order offence were among the incidents which prompted the sweeps in April and August.
Now, North Tyneside Council has been awarded funding to help prevent anti-social behaviour.
The cash is part of a windfall of £930,000 awarded to 30 organisations across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland by Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness, in a bid to reduce violent crime and make sure vital youth and community services can continue their work after 10 years of austerity.
The council will use its share to transform unused space in Wallsend Customer First Centre (CFC) into a base for local police, youth workers and community protection officers to work.
The new base will provide out of hours and weekend outreach support to move youngsters away from anti-social behaviour and help build their resilience and confidence through opportunities to take part in activities that will develop their life skills
Wokers at the base will identify vulnerable young people and ensure timely referral to the council’s early help team to work with them and families.
Young people attending the secondary schools in Wallsend will be taught to take responsibility for their actions, understand consequences and prevent anti-social behaviour and work with the community to understand perceptions of young people.
Coun Carole Burdis, North Tyneside Council’s Cabinet member for community safety, said: “We are delighted to be awarded this funding which will greatly help our ongoing joint work to tackle anti-social behaviour through prevention and early intervention.
“We want to improve the life chances of all our young people. By engaging young people in Wallsend into positive activities we can divert them away from anti-social behaviour and violence, support them to fulfil their potential and help our residents feel safer.”
The specialist unit was set up earlier this year in a bid to ensure Northumbria remains a safe region.
The funding came from the Home Office and is only in place until March 2020.
