Reports of anti-social behaviour in Washington, Tyne and Wear, have fallen by 25 per cent compared to the same period in 2025. According to the Northumbria Police neighbourhood policing team, the drop is due to joint patrols and work with local partners to steer young people away from crime. These teams work alongside Sunderland City Council and the housing association Gentoo to monitor known problem areas.
Officers and youth workers from Together for Children identify individuals involved in nuisance behaviour and connect them with youth clubs or other community schemes. This approach follows the expansion of community safety hubs to the Concord and Sulgrave areas in 2025, which were designed to mirror successful projects in other parts of the region. New priorities set by the police on 16-17 March 2026 will see this work continue through to June.
The local police team is also focusing on shoplifting and burglary by using court orders to ban repeat offenders from specific areas for up to three years. Beyond patrols, officers are visiting schools to run education sessions aimed at preventing crime before it happens. As part of wider changes this year, the policing team is also preparing to move its base to the Washington community fire station in 2026.
