Minister's visit to once crime-plagued Stockton street where multi-agency focus having 'big impact'
Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson has visited the Stockton street where drugs and violence previously left neighbours terrified.
Wembley Way, in Stockton, was once a hive of crime where drug dens were shut after months of anti-social behaviour blighted the lives of law-abiding residents. But after police, council and housing agencies joined forces to put a lid on the offending by moth-balling the properties of those responsible, it is claimed there's been a reduction in crimes and a better standard of life.
On a walk along the street, past over a dozen boarded up homes, Ms Johnson chatted to police officers and Labour Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Cleveland, Matt Storey, as well as representatives from Accent Housing, who manage homes there.
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The purpose of the walkabout - on Thursday, January 23 - was to see how the force is working to combat serious violence and anti-social behaviour in the area as part of Project Harmony.
Speaking to an officer, the Government minister asked how frequently police would be out and about on the street as part of their work in the community. The officer responded that it would be two or three times a day.
Ms Johnson was asked what made this estate walkabout different to ones she had done before. She said: “I think seeing this for myself and hearing what it was like before there was this multi-agency approach. I was hearing that drug dealing was going on in front of the police as they were walking by. Clearly, tackling that, and seeing now when you walk around and hearing about how people feel safe, this is an area that they’ve got some pride in.”
Mr Storey added: “What I think we’ve found today is the benefit of partnership working. What we’re trying to show the minister is, if you get housing associations, the police, local council, my office, all working together, we can have a really big impact on local people’s lives.”
The sheer number of boarded up properties in the street was raised, with Mr Storey saying: “It is the start of the process, but if you lived across from a property that had drug dealing happening from that property, I think you would take the hit of seeing it boarded up for a little bit of time”.
Teesside Live has reported on a number of property closures and criminal activity in Wembley Way over recent years. One such story was in May 2023 when after months of urinating in the street, drug dealing and weapons activity led to a flat being closed.
Teesside Magistrates' Court heard that residents were "living in fear" and fed up with constant visitors who arrived at all times of the day and night. Witnesses spoke of up to 60 people a day visiting the flat at all hours. The court heard these visitors were disruptive and behaved in an anti-social way with reports of people urinating in the street and drug paraphernalia littered around.
In August of the same year, another home was sealed off after justices heard more than 100 a day had been queuing to buy drugs there. Residents were “often kept awake all night” due to the constant noise as well as reports of males and females “fighting in the street at all hours of the day and night”.
In April last year, three men and two women were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs at a flat in Wembley Way. Cocaine, crack cocaine, a sword and £1k in cash were seized from the property.
However, after years of anxiety and strife, Mr Storey believes the multi-agency action is working and making a difference to people's lives. He said: “I think, what we’ve seen is a massive reduction in anti-social behaviour, massive reduction in lots of crime types, knife crime, drug crime and that’s because of the investment and the work that has been going on here.”
Knife crime
Knife crime statistics were discussed with the minister, with the Cleveland police area having the third highest knife crime rate per capita in the country. Ms Johnson highlighted work that the Government is undertaking, explaining that zombie knives and machetes have already been banned and that “we’re going to be introducing a ban on ninja swords soon”.
Ms Johnson also pointed out that the online sales of knives was an issue and that a review into the matter was underway.
She explained that on top of prevention, “there’s the enforcement work as well, so if people are caught, especially young people with a knife, what the Government is saying is there should be an automatic referral to a youth offending team”.
Police funding, children and grooming gangs
When challenged on the funding of the police and the ever-present desire for more money, Ms Johnson said: “I know Cleveland, I know the funding formula is difficult for Cleveland, they are doing amazing work with the resources they have.” She also highlighted different funding streams going to police forces, including the general £1bn of extra funding nationally.
Ms Johnson was also quizzed on His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) report on Cleveland Police, following an inspection, which criticised how the force protected children being exploited online, along with youngsters reported missing.
“Clearly, the PCC and the Chief Constable are very well aware of where there are concerns and they are addressing them and I’ve got some reassurance from them today about that. HMIC, the inspectorate, they will be monitoring and looking to see those improvements are made”, she answered.
On other local affairs, the minister was asked if she had any reaction to the move from Stockton Council to write to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary, setting out the council's desire for the Government to enact a full public inquiry into grooming gangs.
The minister spoke of both her desire and that of the Home Secretary to implement the 20 recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse as well as highlighting the additional £10m announced by the Home Secretary to “help police forces look at additional cases”.
In the afternoon, Ms Johnson was due to meet people in Newport, Middlesbrough, who had been affected by last summer’s riots. When asked what she was going to tell them, she said: “I want to hear from them, actually, and I think the response of the community and of policing to that criminal disorder last summer was remarkable, and I want to pay tribute to the work of the police and the community.”
The Conservative take
The Conservatives responded to the walkabout. Matt Vickers, MP for Stockton West said: “Under this Labour council our Town Centre has become a no go area for many residents and I hear of their frustrations every week. Last week we heard that Cleveland Police were potentially leaving children at risk and its response to investigating child abuse, neglect and exploitation was inadequate. The minister should have been here asking the tough questions about what is going wrong and stopping local children being put at further risk."
Ropner ward Conservative Councillor Sufi Mubeen, who has recently been working with a team of volunteers organising direct action to tackle prostitution and anti-social behaviour also commented. He said: “It’s a kick in the teeth to local residents when a minister turns up on a secret tour giving people a pat on the back whilst round the corner people are living in fear in their own homes because the council has failed to act for years."
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