Seasonal crackdown on crime hailed a resounding success by PCC

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen today hailed the success of a winter crackdown that has driven unprecedented action against the crimes that harm communities most.

Throughout December and January, officers have been working intensively with town centre partners and businesses as part of the Government’s ‘Winter of Action’ initiative to boost visibility, maintain law and order and target known offenders in an ambitious bid to reclaim the streets and improve wider feelings of safety.

Their efforts have focused on combatting retail crimes such as shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and criminal disorder,increasing safety in the night-time economy and diverting young people away from risky activities that could result in them entering the justice system.

But tough enforcement is just one strand of the Commissioner’s mission to build communities that are safer, stronger and more resilient to drug and alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour.

The PCC recognises the impossibility of officers arresting their way out of the problems that bring communities’ harm. This is why her Police, Crime and Justice Plan is as much about tackling the root causes of offending and reoffending as it is about relentlessly pursuing criminals and holding them accountable for their actions.

The PCC and partners have continued to prioritise preventative and rehabilitative approaches throughout the campaign to address offending linked to drugs, alcohol and gambling. This includes ensuring community orders are granted with drug, alcohol, gambling, and mental health treatment requirements to deter and prevent reoffending and place offenders on the fast-track to recovery.

Throughout the campaign, several prolific shoplifters were caught red-handed by police with officers working swiftly to accelerate justice.

Many of offenders have been issued with criminal behaviour orders to curtail their activities including a serial shoplifter who has been banned from entering Durham City for three years.

In a separate case brought by Consett Police, a 22-year-old man was jailed after admitting more than 20 shoplifting offences in supermarkets throughout Consett.

In Bishop Auckland, officers secured a joint warrant with Durham County Council Trading Standards, seizing over £2,000 of tobacco products, while Darlington Borough Council Trading Standards secured closure orders against three businesses involved in the trade of illegal tobacco/vapes following extensive investigation work.

And in response to an increase in reports of ASB in Durham City Centre, officers secured a dispersal order allowing them to ask anyone engaged in ASB, crime or disorder to leave the city, with those refusing facing arrest.

Officers from the Durham Roads and Armed Policing Team, meanwhile, conducted 876 roadside checks in December as part of the annual Op Limit drug/drink drive campaign, making 109 arrests.

More than half of those arrested (61) tested positive for cocaine and cannabis – outstripping the rate of drivers found over the legal alcohol limit (30) by over 50% – while 14 drivers were deemed unfit to drive through drink or drugs and four failed to provide samples.

Elsewhere, the Commissioner joint funded a powerful awareness campaign to target drug and drink driving over the festive period and supported Project Vigilant – a joint effort by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), Cleveland Police, Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police aimed at targeting predatory behaviour in the night-time economy to prevent sexual offending and spiking incidents.

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: “The results of the Winter of Action are hugely impressive.

“Tackling problems as a united team clearly works. It demonstrates the power of targeting our collective resources to where they are most needed and where they will make a tangible difference.

“We simply can’t underestimate the value of our officers ‘being seen’ – by the public, by prolific criminals, and by retailers and other businesses who are so fundamental to our economy. Visibility reinforces public perceptions of safety and the effectiveness of the authorities to keep them safe while sending out a stark warning about the likely risks of being caught to offenders.

“While the ‘Winter of Action’ has intensified enforcement action, prevention remains at the heart of my overall approach. It is critical that we tackle the reasons why people offend in the first place or else the wheel will just keep on turning. My Plan recognises this and takes ambitious steps to address those issues.

“I would like to thank everyone, including our partners and our exceptionally dedicated officers, staff and volunteers, for their support in delivering this campaign and the instrumental role they played in its success.”

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS

Activity highlights from the campaign:

Retail Crime

• Underage sales test purchasing exercise in Darlington focused on retailers of tobacco and vapes.
• Underage sales test purchasing exercise in Darlington focused on retailers of knives and bladed instruments.
• Operation Hawkeye activity around Darlington Town Centre and Durham City Centre to provide crime prevention advice to anyone with valuables or shopping on display.
• CCTV security pods deployed in retail premises across Durham and Darlington to proactively target shoplifting.

ASB and Street Crime

• Proactive civic enforcement patrols undertaken alongside ‘Cuppa With A Copper’ engagement events.
• Seasonal activities offered to young people subject to disposals and orders provided by Youth Justice.
• Taxi compliance and licensed premises inspections using intelligence-led targeting of premises within the night-time economy.
• Joint Op Drive Day took place in December to conduct proactive intelligence-led operations for known acquisitive offenders in relation to shed/garage burglaries and theft from motor vehicles.
• Dip sample strips used by officers to confirm alcohol presence in disguised soft drinks to support enforcement of Public Space Protection Order in Durham City.
• Ongoing seizure of off-road bikes, quad bikes electric scooters – more than 50 seized by police in Seaham alone during 2025.

Safety in the Night-Time Economy

• Maximised use of street support systems including taxi marshals.
• 156 people supported in December and January at the Durham City Night-Time Economy Hub at St Nicholas Church in Market Place.
• Proactive visits to hotels and takeaways to educate around exploitation.
• Talks delivered by Durham University to raise awareness of safety and crime prevention among students.
• Joint drug dog operation held in Durham City and Darlington in partnership with licensing officers to tackle drug use in the night-time economy.

Wider Activity

• YMCA delivered youth sessions to support the prevention of ASB in Darlington Town Centre.
• Youth Justice delivered a full programme of events over the Christmas period engaging with young people creating Christmas crafts including woodwork activities and Christmas card making and donating these items to charities.
• County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service carried out 2,577 home safety visits, delivered 11 presentations to young people in schools on arson and deliberate fires, as well as several fire setter interventions which support children and young people (up to age 18) to change risky behaviour.  These interventions are age-appropriate and tailored to individual needs, including very young children.  Anyone worried that someone may be playing with fire can be referred through the website – Fire Safety Intervention Referral Form.
• PCC’s knife crime youth prevention project continued throughout December to raise awareness of knife crime and its impact on communities.
• Street First Aid workshops delivered at Seaham Community Centre reaching 97 young people as part of the Beacon of Light project.
• 121 Fun and Food Events hosted by Durham County Council over the Christmas holidays, with over 1,200 children and young people attending.

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