Chiefs launch '˜day of action' in bid to rid Hartlepool streets of crime and nuisance

The initiative – led by the Hartlepool Community Safety Team under the umbrella of the Safer Hartlepool Partnership - will take place on Monday, August 20.

It will target an area bounded by York Road, Elliott Street, Murray Street and Young Street which includes Dent Street, Derwent Street and Lowthian Road.

It aims to address problems with crime and antisocial behaviour, drug dealing/taking and associated drug litter, fly-tipping, rubbish in the rear yards of properties, the poor appearance of some residential properties and rear alleys and empty properties.

The area is affected by higher than average levels of crime, but campaign organisers say intelligence also suggests that a lot more incidents may be going unreported.

Coun Christopher Akers-Belcher, chair of the Safer Hartlepool Partnership and council leader, said: “When the Hartlepool Community Safety Team was launched earlier this year it brought together staff from the Council, Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade at Hartlepool Police Station to try to ensure that issues identified as causing a problem received a co-ordinated multi-agency response. This “Day of Action” is a perfect example of such a co-ordinated response and I would urge residents to support us in our efforts to tackle the issues affecting this area.”

A community safety trailer will be located outside the Mill House Leisure Centre from 2pm-5pm and residents will be able to drop-in and talk to members of the Hartlepool Community Safety Team.

Representatives of a range of agencies will also be staging a walkabout to talk to residents to find out more about what most concerns them and to encourage them to report issues.

There will be a free one-off collection of residents’ household and bulky waste. All they have to do is place their waste in the back alley behind their properties between 7.30am and 2.30pm on the day.

Only household and garden waste that has been bagged, furniture (maximum of three items per household), electrical items and children’s toys/play equipment will be taken.

Household and garden waste that has not been bagged, carpets/underlay, clinical/medical waste, rubble/concrete/asbestos, kitchen cupboards and worktops, baths/sinks/toilets and tyres will not be taken.