A dedicated Police and partner operation has helped to lower crime and anti-social behaviour on the Tyne and Wear Metro, as well as the coastal community it serves. Operation Coastwatch was first launched in 2014 and the first three weeks of this year’s initiative has seen a 47% reduction in the number of anti-social behaviour incidents when compared with 2024.
The scheme is led by Northumbria Police with support from North Tyneside Council and Nexus. Its objective is tackle pockets of disorder which often spring up close to the coast. It aims to reassure the community and also take swift action to prevent any disorder during periods of warmer weather through extra foot patrols, preventative work at Metro stations and beach wardens who monitor coastal activity.
Erika Allen, Quality Health Safety Security and Environment (QHSSE) Director at Nexus, said: “It’s great to see Operation Coastwatch having such a positive impact in lowering crime and anti-social behaviour and the hard work on this will continue. As the operator of the Metro system, we have a key part to play in supporting the police and our local authority partners in keeping the public safe and secure as we provide Metro services into North Tyneside.
“This builds on the work we have already done to improve safety and security on the transport network, including the roll out of our dedicated security teams, investment in new CCTV, and the launch of our text message alert system. Metro is a safe system to travel on and we are determined to keep it that way.”
The first three months of Operation Coastwatch this year – start of May-end of July – saw a 47% fall in the number of anti-social behaviour incidents compared with 2024, while the number of incidents on the Metro network has dropped by 74%.