Street rangers and teamwork cut thefts

Communication our top skill, says anti-crime partnership

- By Paul Jeeves Crime Editor

City patrol...ranger Adam O'Sullivan. Inset, from top, NE1's Mark Sumner and Adam and Terry Brooks check on homeless woman

A CITY previously plagued by thieves and antisocial behaviour is being transformed with the most old-fashioned anti-crime measure - talking.

In just 12 months, the NE1 Business Improvement District team has changed Newcastle city centre with an innovative partnership.

And at its heart is a "joined-up" approach to tackling issues like shoplifting that has led to an 8% drop in overall crime. Meanwhile, antisocial behaviour has plunged 30% and thefts are down by 11%.

The team has pulled together police, council staff, support services and more than 300 firms, which each pay £6,000 to finance the scheme.

Trained street rangers are the first port of call, with police on hand for more serious offences.

Businesses believe it is "the next best thing" to the Daily Express Stop The Shoplifters campaign's demand for police to attend all thefts.

Former policeman Terry Brooks was contemplating retirement when his mother told him she no longer wanted to visit the city centre as she did not feel safe. He spotted the

'Mum didn't feel safe'... Terry Brooks