Operation Coastwatch is a joint effort by Northumbria Police, North Tyneside Council and the Metro light rail operator Nexus. The aim: to address anti-social behaviour on beaches and around transport hubs. It includes patrols, beach wardens, and the deployment of mobile CCTV.
Insp Craig Cook, of Northumbria Policeโs North Tyneside Area Command, said: โWe know that many young people will be wanting to get out and about along the coast to enjoy the warmer weather and to mark the end of the latest school or college terms this summer. Unfortunately, this can on occasion spill over into disorder and ASB carried out by a minority, which is of course completely unacceptable and something we will not tolerate now or ever.
โPolicing alone cannot tackle these societal issues which is why weโre pleased to once again be working alongside our partners to tackle problems through a collaborative approach, with our teams engaging with residents and local businesses in the process.โ
โOperation Coastwatch has achieved fantastic results since its inception over a decade ago, but we know our work is far from done in this area. Ultimately, we are all working towards the same goal of keeping North Tyneside the welcoming place it is renowned for being.”
And Erika Allen, Quality, Health, Safety, Security and Environment (QHSSE) Director at Nexus, said: โMetro is a major gateway into the North Tyneside coastline over the summer months, and we want people to come and enjoy it. However, we donโt want a minority of troublemakers to spoil it for everyone else. Weโre working closely with the police and our local authority partners again this year through Operation Coastwatch. Metro is a safe system and we are determined to keep it that way.
โThese operations are proving successful in dealing with issues that arise, including anti-social behaviour and fare evasion.โ
Meanwhile in the West Midlands, the penalty for travelling by National Express Bus without a valid ticket went up from ยฃ70 to ยฃ100 from April 20. Fare evaders may also face prosecution and, if a court finds them guilty, could be fined up to ยฃ1,000, the bus operator adds.
Jacques Le Gall, Senior Commercial Manager said: โFare evasion is something we take very seriously. While the vast majority of our customers pay their way, there is a small minority of people who think the rules donโt apply to them. Our passengers feel it is unfair when people use bus services without paying. We hope this significant increase in standard fare charges will act as a better deterrent.
โThe easiest way to buy a ticket is with Tap & Cap. Simply tap the card reader with your contactless bank card and we will cap your fare so you donโt pay more than you should. Itโs far cheaper than being caught or ending up in court. So, there is no excuse for free loading and it wonโt be tolerated.โ
