The Bedlington Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) are aware of repeated incidents of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), including fires being set alight, in Gallagher Park, Bedlington. 

A number of individuals have already been identified as being involved, with visits being conducted by officers at their home addresses and warnings regarding their behaviour being afforded in the presence of their parents and guardians. Further enquiries are being progressed in relation to those yet unidentified. Robust action will be taken against any individuals identified as responsible for committing any criminal offences.

A Dispersal Order is in effect from this afternoon (Friday 4th April) for a period of 48 hours to prevent further ASB. The Dispersal Order covers the entirety of Gallagher Park. A Dispersal Order enables Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to direct a person who has engaged in, or likely to engage in, ASB to leave a specified area and not to return for the period the Order is in place. A Dispersal Notice can be issued to anyone over the age of 10 years of age. It is a criminal offence to remain in the area of exclusion or return to the area once a notice has been issued. Anyone found contravening a Dispersal Notice issued to them may be liable to be arrested. 

You will see an increased Police presence in the area over the weekend to afford reassurance to the wider community and to tackle any incidents of ASB. We would ask park users and local residents to report any issues or concerns they may have via the force website here, by visiting Bedlington Police Station which is open daily between 8am-5pm or by calling the non-emergency number ‘101’. In the event of an emergency or if something is happening there and then, contact Police by calling ‘999’. In the event of any fires set alight, please also contact Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service via ‘999’ providing as detailed a location as possible (via the use of What3Words preferably). We would ask parents and guardians to consider where their children are congregating and with whom over the weekend and to have frank discussions if considered necessary explaining the importance of staying out of the area, the risk lighting uncontrolled fires can pose (see here for further) and the negative ramifications of being subject to Police action.