It was good to see the positive reaction from members of the public to the new Operation Coast Watch Hub on the seafront in Tynemouth, based I’m told, on a similar scheme at Bondi Beach.
The hub is a base for police officers and council staff working in partnership to make sure residents and visitors alike can enjoy the coast in safety. Officers offer visible reassurance, protect key public spaces like the beaches and deter and disrupt antisocial behaviour. It’s a multiagency approach based on policing, the council’s community protection team and others like Nexus and Metro.
Our fantastic, regenerated coast is a great place to visit but we want people to behave responsibly. There’s also a big effort put into getting the message out to schools that young people are welcome but bad behaviour won’t be tolerated. Anti-social behaviour can come in many forms from drinking alcohol, using drugs, causing litter and damage to threatening behaviour and fighting.
I spoke to officers at the hub about Operation Coast Watch and then at a meeting with the Chief Constable. We talked about police numbers and the importance of a significant presence but of course moving resources in can leave other areas exposed. That why we need more police officers. We also discussed the powers available to officers because being willing to use those powers sends out an important message about what’s expected from visitors. The police and council are committed to making Coast Watch a success and to make sure residents and visitors can enjoy our coast throughout the summer.