PCC showcases major achievements to protect victims and relentlessly pursue offenders

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has reported on the sweeping advances being made to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and deliver a first-class service to victims of crime.

The County Durham and Darlington PCC shared new performance data at a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel (Tuesday 23 September), revealing significant progress against the priorities local people have told her are important.

In presenting a draft of her Annual Report for 2025/26 and key data from a quarterly performance update (April to June 2025), the Commissioner said huge strides had been made to improve the investigation of crime and enhance the experience of victims to build their trust and confidence.

Following her resounding victory at last year’s election, the PCC said she had continued to listen to the public and fight for the changes residents and victims needed to make them feel safer and better protected.

She also highlighted a series of national achievements and her role in lobbying for change across England and Wales. These include her relentless campaigning for the wider roll out of overdose reversal drug Naloxone, her successful fight to secure a new standalone spiking law, her ongoing lobbying for gambling harm to be at the top of the national agenda and her trailblazing work with MPs, road safety experts and bereaved families to protect young and novice drivers. 

Headline achievements include:

• More officers on the beat – 1,392 police officers now in post compared to 2019 (before national uplift), alongside more PCSOs and Specials.
• Faster 999 response – 92% of emergency calls answered in under 10 seconds (up from 77% last year). Average answer time to answer 999 calls reduced by 16.5% in 2024/25 - from 15.8 seconds to 13.2 seconds
• £1m secured for ongoing hotspot patrols across County Durham and Darlington to address serious violence and ASB, already leading to 70 arrests and 24 stop-searches between April and June.
• Over 500 victims supported in first quarter of 2025/26 by in-house Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS), with new initiatives including video doorbells for stalking victims.
• 4.8% reduction in serious violence offences and 5.4% fall in violence with injury offences in 12 months up to March 2025 – well below the national average.
• 28.7% reduction in neighbourhood crimes in 2024/25.
• £200K investment in tackling rural crime during 2024/25 with two new Rural Watch Coordinators and an intelligence officer appointed to share intelligence and bring rural criminals to justice.
• 24/7 drone coverage achieved with the PCC funding 16 new pilots and four more drones in 2024/25, bringing the total number of qualified drone pilots to 40.

Commissioner Joy Allen said: “I am proud of the extraordinary success we have achieved this year. Alongside several national awards for innovation and excellence, we have continued to stand up for victims, residents and businesses, delivering the changes they have told us are vital to their safety and well being.

“Criminality is complex and always evolving. But I have kept my promise to break the cycle of crime, investing in specialist support services and creating more opportunities for treatment to give people the help they need before they commit crime and importantly after they enter the justice system.

“I know that national policies don’t always apply to the people who live in County Durham and Darlington. This is why I have a growing portfolio of national roles to fight for our county and secure change that is relevant and meaningful.

“I do not take my responsibilities as Commissioner lightly. The people of County Durham and Darlington have placed their trust in me, and I will continue to do everything I can to make their lives better and safer.”

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