Town centre crackdown leads to hundreds of interventions
A summer operation to help vulnerable people and crackdown on bad behaviour in Middlesbrough town centre has led to hundreds of interventions.
Middlesbrough Council and Cleveland Police have joined forces for Operation Banton which involves a concentrated effort to reduce anti-social behaviour at the heart of the town.
Neighbourhood Safety Wardens have dealt with 242 separate incidents of anti-social behaviour in Central Ward since the June launch.
There have also been 50 interventions through the Public Space Protection Order which has led to 47 dispersals and three Fixed Penalty Notices, 148 arrests including 36 for theft and the use of stop and search powers and CCTV interventions.
In addition 15 Community Protection Warning Notices have been issued as well as three Community Protection Notices.
While primarily directing any troubled people to available help, the operation is also using powers where necessary to tackle begging, street drinking and shoplifting.
Although Middlesbrough does have a small number of rough sleepers, those who regularly beg in the town centre are known to council officers and police and are not homeless.
So far arrests have been made, warnings issued, stop and search powers used and use has been made of the town centre speakers for interventions.
Council Street Wardens and their police colleagues have also been positively engaging with businesses and private security guards from the town’s main shopping centres.
Cllr Tony Grainge, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhood Safety, said: “The teams currently putting in the hard work in the town centre are there to help everyone, whether it’s visitors, businesses or vulnerable people who require assistance.
“That’s what we are doing through Operation Banton and hopefully everyone can see the benefits and improvements through these interventions.”
Chief Inspector Darren Birkett from Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “This operation will continue in the town centre to increase visibility and provide reassurance to businesses and visitors to Middlesbrough town centre and to target those who are intent on being involved in criminality and antisocial behaviour.”