Paid for by the private sector, Stockton Police are running Operation Tranquillity over the coming months to combat anti-social behaviour in and around the Stockton area on weekend evenings.
There will be an additional sergeant and four police officers drafted in to support late night town centre venues – taking in the pubs and nightclubs as well as the food takeaways which are often at the hub of rowdy behaviour as the pubs and clubs come to a close. And in Yarm there will also be an additional two police officers with a further two drafted in to work with the Tall Trees.
With an estimated 6600 people leaving Stockton Town Centre at around 2am on weekends, the officers will work from 10pm until 3am on Friday and Saturday evenings, and 10pm until 1am on Sundays.
Chief Inspector Mick Williams of Stockton Police said: "The benefit to the licensees and food takeaways who have signed up to Tranquillity means the venue has direct telephone access to a police officer to assist them with any nuisance behaviour, drunkenness and violence immediately without channelling the call through the police control room.
"The officers will be making regular visits to the premises, building relationships with staff and reinforcing the message to the public that the police were working with the clubs, pubs and takeaways to reduce anti-social behaviour. The initiative will be privately funded, with each of the establishments who have signed up, paying towards the cost of the additional officers pro-rata to the size and opening times of the premises. The take-up has been very encouraging with more than 20 venues signed up throughout the district."
Steve Huxtable, Licensee of Zanzibar Club in Stockton said, "We have full support for the paid for policing incentive as it will create a safer environment in Stockton High Street and hopefully, it will encourage more people to visit, and will also support our ‘Responsible Drinking Campaign’ which we have in operation."
Alastair Powell, owner of The Keys in Yarm who has also signed up to the funding for the additional officers said, "We are pleased to be involved with Tranquillity as it demonstrates our commitment to the local community as responsible operators. We realise it is essential to run a trouble-free venue in order that we maintain harmony with residents both in the immediate locality of The Keys and also in Yarm in general.
