No Police cells left in Northumberland.

Northumbria Police close last remaining custody suite in the County.

County Cllr Gordon Stewart the Northumberland County Council Cabinet member for Public safety said – ‘This is another step in the continuing erosion of Police cover in Northumberland.

Stations and Police desks closed, the Police control room moved out of the County. The first time in several generations.

Support officers being apparently moved to call centers to improve call handling times, I can say the Public are giving up contacting the Police as it takes too much effort and time to get through’

The highly acclaimed Project Shield  which saw Council officers working with the Police and other partners closely to tackle the menace of ASB, scaled right back due to funding issues.

Operation Capio was welcomed by communities as officers tackled motor cycle disorder all but removed from the county. 

To close the last custody suite in Northumberland will make officers escorting prisoners travel further increasing the risks to the officers themselves also the suspects and reducing on the ground police resources whilst they are processing the suspect.

The dangers of escorting suspects are real everyday, possibly,drunken, high on drugs, mentally unwell, violent or injured.

At one time parents would caution unruly teenagers by saying ‘ a night in the cells would teach them a lesson’ now we dont even have a cell !!

Every week rural communities complain about the lack of Policing cover, this is going to make it even worse.

The Government has said it is supporting the Police, there is no evidence of this as far as Northumbria is concerned with funding being eroded,  council tax payers having to cough up a massive 9.45% increase for the police precept.

The PCC needs to set about an urgent  root and branch review of all Police cover across Northumberland to protect and reassure the Public and put the fear onto the criminals not the hardworking law abiding public.

From Nbria Police.

We can confirm that Bedlington custody is to close as a fully operational suite in June after it re-opened in July 2024, having previously shut in 2015.

“A detailed review over the last 12 months highlighted that the suite does not offer the most effective or efficient use of our resources and does not provide value for money for our communities. This decision means that we can continue to focus our resources where they are most needed and will have the greatest impact. The custody suite will be retained for resilience and to ensure flexibility.

“It is important to recognise that not all of those arrested in Northumberland are currently taken to Bedlington, with people from East and West Tynedale taken to Forth Banks in Newcastle as this is their closest station and this will continue to be the case.

——

Notes

Northumberland area size and demographics-

https://www.ons.gov.uk/explore-local-statistics/areas/E06000057-northumberland

Northumbria Police – Station locations etc –

https://www.northumbria.police.uk/

Northumbria Police Federation-

https://norpolfed.org.uk/

Route planner- estimated time between points within the County and Police cells, dependent upon weather, double crewing, traffic conditions / RTC, delays at custody.

https://www.theaa.com/route-planner/route

News items-

https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/26055974.man-arrested-connection-robbery-asda-prudhoe/?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv0

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/gordon-stewart-more-police-resources-33841289?fbclid=IwRlRTSARcrQpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeKDtUEAWF5-wVX0XQX7f6mhSE9w05uuWq3aIAX6yJbKvxvzT6x2MSxBXk-Ek_aem_Qng1jnfP877Tidwt0mlgNg

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/council-tax-hike-north-east-33379386

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/northumbria-police-facing-calls-beef-33114408

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/calls-funding-continue-police-crackdown-33093044

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/northumbria-police-face-calls-review-32721381

Gordon Stewart

County Councillor (Prudhoe South)

Cabinet member – Public safety. 

Mobile 07779983093    

e mail gordon.stewart@northumberland.gov.uk

Web https://prudhoeconservatives.com/

Facebook Prudhoe Matters

Twitter @PrudhoeNland

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Threads Prudhoe Matters

BlueSky – Prudhoe Matters

Regardless of the time or day I sent this email to you, there is no expectation for you to read or respond to my email outside of your normal working hours, during annual leave or on days you are not contracted to work.

Image

VAT’S the problem.

https://www.vatstheproblem.co.uk/?fbclid=IwZnRzaASQ8OlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEec8O7cn2_5z_ybSPr8VtZtYdGIV3qbWACQhSvwaEFd8mkVb23EXTZuFbyMfE_aem_lbCigPALHC6TL-MZVRKZhA

Many Northumberland hospitality business are promoting & participating in this campaign.

The campaign asks –

Do you want to back your favourite venue, help your high street and support local jobs? Then sign our petition to lower the rate of VAT for hospitality to 10%.

Our pubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels, nightclubs and many more, are at the heart of our communities. 

They bring people together and bring life to our cities, towns and villages, but they’re under huge pressure from rising costs.

In the UK, you pay one of the highest VAT rates in Europe. 20% extra in VAT for your meal out or stay away. In France, Spain and Italy, it’s 10%. In Germany? 7%.

Our message to Government is simple. Let’s stand together to say VAT at 10% is fair for Hospitality.

County Cllr Gordon Stewart said ‘ Pubs, cafe’s and other hospitality businesses are the heart beat of all British communities, so important for employment, it’s becoming more evident that they support the local infrastructure and economy as well as the welfare of residents, at a time when mental health is at the root of many issues.

Such businesses are renowned for working with and supporting local producers and suppliers.

We have seen so many pubs and other businesses close in all areas as they struggle with changing habits, rising costs such as produce & utilities.

The rise in the living wage has added to business costs, as a consequence employers have reluctantly laid local people off and stopped recruitment.

Many of those people are the least resilient when losing their income.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/national-living-wage-increases-to-1271-per-hour

Tax allowances have been frozen.

https://www.gov.uk/income-tax-rates

This Government has imposed two very damaging taxes upon such businesses,

Raising the employers NI contributions rate from 13.8% to 15% and lowering the threshold where employers start paying from £9,100 to £5,000. 

https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-rates-letters

Business rates being hiked at a devastating rate.

High Street Crisis: high business rates force shop and pub closures, destroying town centres.

Unfair Burden: physical businesses suffer a disadvantage compared to online retailers.

Stifling Growth: 

High taxes punish entrepreneurship and discourage investment. 

Check out what business rates are required, the level is set by the Government not as some believe the local authority-

https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/business-rates-find/search

All the above creates a perfect storm. With residents having less money in their ‘pockets’ and the local economy taking a dive that only the Government can reverse this decline.

I support this campaign.

Please Shop local, visit Prudhoe help support #PrudhoeBusiness

To retain / create @TynedaleJobs

Speed survey – Moor road- 2026.

Following comments made about the perceived excessive speed of some vehicles travelling on Moor road Prudhoe, close to PCHS I asked that a further speed survey was carried out.

The result is shown below-

For information, the 85th percentile is that speed at which 85% of vehicles are travelling or less, while the remaining 15% of vehicles will be travelling above that speed. Within a 30mph speed limit, the 85th percentile is required to be a minimum of 35mph for enforcement to be considered by the police.  

The Police have been asked to pay attention to the area and carry out speed checks when they have the capacity.

Speed calming measures were put in place a few years ago.