The latest news from Durham Police and Crime Commissioner... Commissioners Briefing 2
Spotlight on Drivers
We are cracking down on irresponsible dangerous driving. Almost 4,000 motorists were caught speeding in a single month on the county’s roads – with one driver clocked driving at 129mph.
Operation Spotlight was set up to target drug drivers along with those drivers who selfishly put others at risk on our roads.
Survivors of sexual violence praise PCC-funded support that is helping them cope
Life-changing support funded by my office has transformed the lives of over 120 survivors of sexual violence.
The counselling services form part of my Police, Crime and Justice Plan commitments to deliver a first-class service to all victims of crime, especially the most vulnerable in our communities..
You told me one of your main concerns was getting through to 999 and 101 when it mattered most.
That’s why I agreed an investment of around £1.5m in additional control room staff and advanced technology, to ensure call wait times could be reduced across the board.
Durham outperforms national average in beating crime
New figures show a 9.4% reduction in recorded crime across Durham with the force area outperforming many other parts of the country.
A total of 60,450 crimes were recorded in the 12 months up to December 2024 compared to 66,706 in 2023 (-9.4%). The average reduction for police recorded crime for England and Wales during the same period was -2%.
I was honoured to welcome the Knife Angel and kickstart a month-long programme of awareness activity to warn of the consequences of carrying knives.
This stark and powerful memorial – standing at no less than 27 feet tall – is a visual representation of the enormity of the challenge we face as a society to eradicate knife crime and violence. I was very proud to provide the funding which enabled the local Neighbourhood Team to bring the Angel to Newton Aycliffe.
Too many have lost lives needlessly through violence and I am determined to deliver change.
Our relentless efforts to encourage ministers to back the introduction of graduated driving licences (GDL) to protect young and novice drivers continued as we headed to London for a new Parliamentary drop-in meeting.
Alongside bereaved families from Forget-me-not Families Uniting (FFU) group, I argued the case for GDL to the country’s MPs, highlighting growing evidence that GDL can reduce crashes involving young drivers by 20-40%.
New roads policing role puts Durham at the heart of national reform
Alongside a growing portfolio of national policing responsibilities, I have been appointed Joint Lead for Roads Policing on behalf of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC).
The new role will help me to drive improvements that will help keep road users in Durham and beyond safe and provide a platform to campaign for policy change and legislative reform at the highest level.
In my role as Joint Lead for Addictions and Substance Misuse on behalf of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), I joined campaigners at a national awards event at the House of Commons to recognise the fantastic work underway to reach and educate young people about the risk of alcohol harm.
With 40% of secondary school-age children having been involved in some form of violence because of alcohol, we must exhaust all opportunities to tackle underage drinking.
Responding to a new report by the London Drugs Commission
As APCC Joint Lead on Addictions and Substance Misuse, I have responded to a new report by the independent London Drugs Commission into the effectiveness of UK drug laws concerning cannabis, reiterating that cannabis is a harmful drug and that decriminalisation could run the risk of making people more likely to use the drug.
In disagreeing with the Commission’s recommendation that possessing a small amount of cannabis should be decriminalised, we will be consulting with PCC colleagues to discuss and develop our approach.
In my national work to tackle drug harm, I have welcomed a new evaluation by the Home Office of equipping police officers in England and Wales with naloxone which can save lives when administered as an antidote to an opioid overdose.
Officers in 32 forces - including Durham which was one of the first - can volunteer to carry naloxone with seven more set to pilot the strategy.
