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New thermal imaging cameras are helping neighbourhood officers robustly tackle anti-social behaviour and other top public priorities thanks to investment by Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen.
The County Durham and Darlington PCC provided funding worth more than £11k for eight handheld thermal imaging cameras across the force, meeting her Police, Crime and Justice Plan promise to fund tools and resources necessary for helping officers respond to problems that matter to communities.
Cameras have been allocated to Neighbourhood Policing Teams covering communities in Peterlee; Seaham; Darlington; Consett, Stanley and Chester-le-Street; Durham City, Sherburn and Framwellgate Moor; Bishop Auckland, Crook and Barnard Castle; and Aycliffe, Spennymoor and Ferryhill.
The move follows a pilot by Sherburn Neighbourhood Policing Team, funded by the PCC, which saw officers trialling the camera as part of their response to ASB, missing from home searches, suspect searches, property recovery and suspected cannabis grows.
The tool quickly became an invaluable addition, helping officers to search open areas - including quarries and wetland - for heat sources during missing people searches without the need to walk across potentially hazardous ground with a torch.
It was also used successfully to locate off-road motorcycles involved in ASB in woodland, resulting in vehicle seizures.
The PCC has stressed that the aim of the equipment is not to replace the use of a drone but to provide support where drone pilots are engaged in other incidents or in situations where a location or weather conditions are unsuitable for flying.
Thanks to the success of the pilot, she agreedto provide further funding to the tune of £9,745 – in addition to the £1,667 already committed to Sherburn NPT – to roll out the thermal cameras to other Neighbourhood Policing Teams to support their work.
The investment follows the PCC’s funding of 16 new drone pilots and four drones, enabling the force to provide 24-7 coverage.
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: “I have worked hard since coming to office in 2021 to increase capacity in our neighbourhood policing teams and to ensure they are equipped with the technology and tools to protect our communities from key threats and risks - and to disrupt those who cause misery, harm and exploit local people.
“I will not relent on my mission to pursue criminals and bring them to justice and will continue to invest in the very latest technologies and facilities to deliver a first-class response to the public.
“I want Durham Constabulary to be recognised as the best at preventing crime and anti-social behaviour. Off-roadbikes, ASB and drug crime have a profound and far-reaching impact on our communities, heightening fear – and they will not be tolerated. I am gratefulto the public’s support in communicating vital information to help police solve crime. I would encourage residents to continue reporting their concerns and any suspicious activity to the force to help us remain one step ahead.”
In the twelve months up to 30 April 2024, 3,505 incidents involving off-road, scrambler, quad bikes, motorbikes, or dirt bikes were recorded by the force – equating to an average of 292 every month.
Under the Safer Neighbourhoods theme of her new Police, Crime and Justice Plan, the Commissioner has vowed to identify and tackle ASB hotspots including those where vehicles of any kind are being used illegally. This came after 45% of the public said ASB (nuisance) was a priority in a recent survey. She continues to provide funding towards Operation Endurance – an all-year-round operation which sees officers seizing bikes on the spot if they are being ridden illegally and anti-socially.
The PCC has also pledged to take tough enforcement action against the individuals, gangs and organised crime groupsr esponsible for the supply and distribution of illegal substances and causing harm to the public and to maximise opportunities to seize drugs.
Since their deployment, the thermal imaging cameras have helped the force to respond to high volume requests including intelligence reports of cannabis grows in a cost-effective way, enabling officers to resolve incidents more quickly and freeing them up for other frontline policing tasks.
Neighbourhood officers in Seaham recentlysuccessfully identified a cannabis farm after following up on communityintelligence. The thermal imaging camera identified heat sources at two properties, one of which was found to contain the remnants of a cannabis grow.
Ends
It has been an absolute privilege to host the Knife Angel in Newton Aycliffe throughout June.
PCC Joy Allen is backing a national campaign raising awareness of alcohol harm and the part it plays in crime.
New security equipment has been funded by the PCC as part of her mission to crack down on countryside crime.
