Your Safety:

In the home:

Your Community is a safe place to live.  Sometimes people tend to dwell on the bad things that happen, however crime in our region is at its lowest level for many years and continues to fall.

Fear of Crime is greater than the reality of it.  Older people often feel even more vulnerable.   We at CDRP believe it is important that you should feel 'safe as houses'.

By following our simple advice, you will be helping all of us to beat the criminal.  Five minutes of your time and we'll explain how:

If someone calls at your door...

• Are you expecting them?  If not, remain alert.  Check to see who it is by looking through the door viewer (if you have one) or look through a window.
• Put the door chain on before opening the door (have one fitted if you don't already have one - they only cost a few pounds).
• Fitting an outside light allows you to see someone outside, and helps find the keyhole in the dark!
• If someone turns up unexpectedly, do not let them in.  Genuine callers will not be offended and will be happy to call another day, having made an appointment.
• Don't allow anyone to put you under pressure to let them in.  Genuine people do not call asking for a drink of water or to use the toilet.  They may be out to take advantage of your generous nature.  Do not be fooled.
• People may call offering to do work on your home or help you with your garden.  They may tell you that you need some urgent maintenance to the roof etc...  Politely tell them you do not need their services.  Later, once they have gone, check with a neighbour, friend or relative whether there really is a problem. If work needs doing, reputable companies can be selected through the yellow pages, or ask a neighbour to recommend someone.  They provide full written quotations which you can take time to compare against each other.  It may be helpful to have someone else with you when builders or workmen first come to inspect your house.
• If you are worried about someone who has called at your house or any other matter, contact your local Police Station who will be able to assist you.

If in doubt, keep them out.

When you're away...

• Make your home appear occupied when out or away by using timer switches to operate lamps or leave lights on.
• Windows - fit key operated window locks to all downstairs windows.  These can be bought from DIY shops and cost just a few pounds each.
• House Alarm - an alarm will give you peace of mind that your home is protected when you are out.  There are many to choose from and we strongly advise you to contact the police who will be able to advise you which one is best for you.
• Door Entry Systems - if you live in a block of flats that have a door entry system, please ensure that strangers are never free to enter.  Never buzz anyone into the block who says they have come to see someone else unless you know them well.
• Spare Keys - do not leave them under a doormat or in a flower pot outside the door.  They should be left with a neighbour in case of emergency.
• Door Locks - there are so many different kinds, it can be difficult to know which are the best.  Your local police crime prevention officer will be able to advise you.  External doors should be locked at night.  Do not lock internal doors as you need to be able to get our quickly in case of a fire.
• Sheds & Garages - these often contain tools which someone could use to attack your home.  Make sure all outbuildings are well secured with a padlock.

Postcoding your property can help deter thieves...
Marking your property can deter burglars and help the police to get your property back to you if it is stolen.
 

Neighbourhood Watch Scheme
Your local Neighbourhood Watch Scheme will be able to advise and help you arrange to fit any of the security items mentioned above.

In the Street

Simple steps to keeping safe in the street...

• If you often walk home in the dark, get a personal attack alarm from a DIY store or ask your local crime prevention officer where you can buy one. Carry it in your hand so you can use it immediately to scare off an attacker. Make sure it is designed to continue sounding if it’s dropped or falls to the ground.
• Carry your bag close to you with the clasp facing inwards. Carry your house keys in your pocket. If someone grabs your bag, let it go. If you hang on, you could get hurt. Remember your safety is more important than your property.
• If you think someone is following you, check by crossing the street – more than once if necessary – to see if he follows. If you are still worried, get to the nearest place where there are other people – a pub or anywhere with a lot of lights on – and call the police. Avoid using an enclosed phone-box in the street, as the attacker could trap you inside.
• If you regularly go jogging or cycling, try to vary your route and time. Stick to well-lit roads with pavements. On commons and parklands, keep to main paths and open spaces where you can see and be seen by other people – avoid wooded areas. If you wear a personal stereo, remember you can’t hear traffic, or somebody approaching behind you.
• Don’t take short-cuts through dark alleys, parks or across waste ground. Walk facing the traffic so a car cannot pull up behind you unnoticed.
• If a car stops and you are threatened, scream and shout, and set off your personal attack alarm if you have one. Get away as quickly as you can. This will gain you vital seconds and make it more difficult for the car driver to follow. If you can, make a mental note of the number and description of the car. Write down details as soon as possible afterwards.
• Don’t hitch-hike or take lifts from strangers.
• Cover up expensive looking jewellery.
• Self-defence and safety awareness classes may help you feel more secure. Ask your local police or your work if they have classes.

Staying safe in Taxis...

• If you are going to be out late, try to arrange a lift home or book a taxi. Check that the taxi that arrives is the one you ordered. Ask for a description of the car – colour, make, etc – and check this when it arrives. If you gave your name when you booked, check that the driver can tell you it before you get in. When you get home, ask the driver to wait until you are inside.
• There are many reputable mini-cab or private hire car companies, but these must be booked either at their office or by phone. In some cases the driver will carry identification. Always keep the number of a reliable firm handy. Avoid mini-cabs or private hire cars that tout for business.
• Always sit behind the driver.
• If you feel uneasy, ask to be let out in a well-lit area where there are plenty of people
• If in any doubt, don’t get in a taxi.

Staying safe on Public Transport...

• Try to stay away from isolated bus stops, especially after dark.
• On an empty bus, sit near the driver or conductor.
• On a train, sit in a compartment where there are several other people – ideally one which will be near the exit of your destination. Check to see where the emergency chain is.

Staying safe when Driving...

• Before a long trip, make sure your vehicle is in good condition.
• Plan how to get to your destination before leaving, and stay on main roads if you can.
• Make sure you have enough money and petrol. Carry a spare petrol can.
• Keep change and a phone card in case you need to make a telephone call. Carry a torch.
• Before you leave, tell anyone you are planning to meet what time you think you will get there, and the route you are taking.
• If someone tries to flag you down, drive on until you come to a service station, or somewhere busy, and call the police. Do not pick up hitch-hikers.
• Keep doors locked when driving and keep any bag, carphone or valuables out of sight. If you have the window open, only wind it down a little. Don’t wind it down far enough to allow someone to reach in while you are stopped in traffic.
• If you think you are being followed, try to alert others by flashing your lights and sounding your horn. Make as much noise as possible. If you can, keep driving until you come to a busy place.
• After dark, park in a well-lit, busy place. Look around before you get out. If you’re parking in daylight, but coming back for your car at night, think about how things will look in the dark.
• Have your key ready when you go back to your car. Make sure there is no-one in the car.
• If your car develops problems, find a telephone. On motorways follow the marker arrows to the closest phone. They are never placed any more than a mile apart, on opposite sides of the motorway. Never cross the carriageway to use a phone.
• While on the hard shoulder or telephoning, keep a sharp look-out and don’t accept lifts from strangers – wait for the police or breakdown service. Don’t wait in the car – there is a high risk of an accident. Wait on the embankment nearby with the front passenger door open. If someone approaches you or you feel threatened, lock yourself in the car and speak to them through a small gap in the window.
• If you frequently have to travel after dark, or if your job involves visiting people at home, eg a health visitor or a district nurse, consider getting a mobile phone or ask your employer to provide one.

What men can do...

Men can help by taking the issue of women’s safety seriously in their everyday lives. Bear these points in mind:

• If you are walking in the same direction as a woman on her own, don’t walk behind her – this may worry her. Cross the road and walk on the other side. This may reassure her that you are not following her.
• Don’t sit too close to a woman on her own in a railway carriage or bus.
• If you are thinking of chatting to a woman waiting, for example, at a lonely bus stop, remember that she won’t know you mean no harm.
• Realise how threatening actions such as staring, whistling, passing comments and jostling can be, particularly when you are one of a group of men.
• Help female friends or family members by giving them a lift or walking them home when you can. If you do, make sure they are safely indoors before you leave.

If the worst happens...

Think what you would do if someone attacked you. Could you fight back, or would you avoid resisting and wait to escape? Only you can decide whether to fight back, but preparing yourself for all possibilities could provide a split-second advantage.

• If someone threatens you, shout and scream for help and set off your personal attack alarm if you have one. This may unnerve the attacker and frighten him off.
• You have every right to defend yourself, with reasonable force with items which you have with you like an umbrella, hairspray or keys can be used against the attacker. The law however doesn’t allow carrying anything which can be described as an offensive weapon.

Assaults and rapes are serious crimes, whether committed by a stranger or someone you know.

• Call the police straightaway. They need your help to catch the attacker. You can help the police by:
  • Taking the name or address of any witness
  • Trying to remember exactly what the attacker looked like
  • If a car was involved, try to note the colour, model and registration number.
• You do not need to go to the police station to report an assault – you can be interviewed in your own home if you wish. These crimes are dealt with sympathetically, regardless of sex. Police stations have specially trained officers who will help and support you, and many areas have comfortable victim suites, separate from the police station, where you can be interviewed privately.
• Although your immediate reaction will be to wash, try not to if you can possibly help it. It will destroy vital medical evidence that will help prove the case against the person who raped or assaulted you.
• Should your case come to trial, by law your anonymity will be guaranteed if you are female, or under 18 years old. The law forbids newspapers to publish anything that might identify you. Also, as a general rule, you should not be asked about your previous sexual history in court.
• If the violence is within your family, legal protection is possible under either civil or criminal law. In some cases for example, they can require a husband or partner not to enter your home, or even your neighbourhood - for more information, see the Domestic Abuse section.

More information on personal safety, please visit the Suzy Lamplugh website.

Your Business

Retail and Business Crime

Retail crime constitutes a significant proportion of the nationally recorded crime statistics. Out of a total of 4.5 million offences in the 12 months ending March 1998, 273,509 were related to theft from shops. All crime is important, both financially and at a personal level. Business and retail crime is no different. That is why it is important the CDRP works with local businesses on a large range of subjects which have an impact not only on businesses but on the communities in which they work.

What can you do about it?

Slow them down...
Time is a key factor in most burglaries. Burglars will put themselves at risk of being caught for as little time as possible. For them the risks are highest when they are conspicuous to passers-by or in the short time they have to complete their burglary after a burglar alarm has gone off. To prevent burglaries effectively, you should delay burglars at these times for as long as possible in order to make the risk seem unacceptable. The best way to do this is to put your resources into more than one of the types or levels of physical protection advised in this booklet – the more barriers you create, the more you will slow them down.

Train your staff...
You need full support from your staff. Teach them about the burglary prevention measures you have taken, and the correct use of any equipment you have installed.

Reporting suspicious circumstances...
Explain to staff the importance, for example, of keeping a watchful eye for suspicious people or vehicles to prevent people ‘casing’your premises.

Get them involved...
You can develop their commitment to crime prevention by asking their opinions and ideas about the measures you are taking or propose to take.

Key security...
Above all, you should build key security into your staff training programme. Ensure that only specially selected staff have access to certain keys or combination locks, and that keys to secure areas are not left within the shop. Selected staff or managers must thoroughly understand their responsibilities for locking and securing fastenings on windows and doors, cabinets, internal offices where cash may be held, safes, rooflights and any other exits.

Help from your crime prevention officer...
Your local crime prevention officer will be able to develop your awareness and knowledge about suitable crime prevention measures for your shop. He or she can also advise you about vetting new staff to reduce the risk of burglaries and other retail crimes being organised or assisted from within.

Look after stock and cash...
Removing high value goods from window displays
You can protect portable high value goods such as jewellery or camcorders by removing them from display windows overnight, and locking them in a safe, or a secure room or cage. But be aware of the drawbacks – the extra workload on you and your staff, and the likelihood that empty windows will attract less window shopping and therefore less ‘informal’ policing. (Having more people around increases the chance of there being witnesses who can call the police.)

Hiding stock...
Burglars will be less likely to break into your stock room if you hide what is in it boarding or whitewashing over the windows.

Leave the till open...
By leaving the till visible, open and clearly empty, any burglars seeking cash are likely to lose interest.

Reducing stock...
The less you have in stock to attract the thief, the less can be taken. By coordinating with suppliers you can introduce ‘just in time’ deliveries, use catalogue deliveries or home deliveries to reduce stock levels. But while such methods may minimise stock taken in a burglary, they are unlikely to deter a burglar unless he or she knows stock levels are low.

Bank your cash...
If you do not leave cash in the store overnight it cannot be stolen in a burglary. Night safe facilities are available after opening hours. If you do not use a specialist cash collection agency be sure you vary the route you take to the bank and the times you leave the shop.

Dummy goods...
In some cases, using dummy goods, (such as coloured water in wine bottles in off-licence displays, or empty CDs and cassette tapes) will deter some opportunistic burglars who only seek display goods, but you have to make it clear that the goods are fake. This approach will not deter burglars seeking high value stock from inside the shop.

Physically protect the target

Strengthening potential entrances...
Use high quality (hardwood) door frames and doors, steel reinforcing and anti-thrust bolts on vulnerable doors, and bars on vulnerable windows. Glass panels in doors are particularly vulnerable to attack and ideally they should be avoided or boarded up. Ask for materials that comply at least to BS8220 for the construction industry as a minimum standard of strength. And the locks on doors should be at least up to the quality of a five lever mortice lock conforming to BS3621.

Grilles and shutters...
These can be an excellent way of deterring burglars, but externally fitted varieties will need planning permission. Internal grilles are usually a thin lattice mesh that is lowered just behind the window. (Note that these do not protect the window and glass replacement is often the greatest cost in a burglary);

There are three main types of external grilles and shutters:

• External metal grilles are usually of the ‘tube and link’ design;
• External roller shutters (made from solid aluminium or steel strips or laths which can have ‘windows’ punched into them to allow window shoppers a glimpse of your wares).  External grilles and shutters usually roll up into a housing behind the fascia while the shop is trading;
• Some are taken down in sections and stored inside the shop.

External shutters are strongly resisted by some planning authorities. Firstly, badly designed or solid shutters prevent window shopping and create a fortress – like hostile environment, reducing the numbers of passers-by at night. Which in turn may increase the level of crime. Secondly, their horizontal design and projecting housings seldom fit aesthetically with the design of a building, (and this is of particular importance in the case of listed buildings and conservation areas).

Fit grilles inside...
You can protect high value goods within the shop floor area by securing high risk display cabinets, such as for tobacco displays, with protective grilles and shutters.

Glass ‘film’...
A reasonably cheap way of improving the strength of glass windows against smash and grab attacks is by applying a plastic film, available in various grades, to the rear of the window. This is a good deterrent but filmed glass windows are slightly less clear than non-filmed windows. Mirror-finished film on rear windows will both increase the strength of the glass and fully restrict a burglar’s view into rear storage areas.

Laminated glass...
This is very difficult to break through in a ‘smash and grab’ attack because it is made by bonding a layer of tough plastic between sheets of glass, and this will hold the window together even after the glass has broken. However, to be effective you must ensure that window frames and fixings are equally strong, and bear in mind that you will often have to pay to replace the glass, even if the burglars were not able to take your stock.

Safes...
A good quality safe will protect cash and valuable items overnight but you should take the added precaution of bolting it in place and positioning it discreetly. If you have, or are fitting a burglar alarm, you can include sensors inside the safe that will set the alarm off if the safe is opened. But beware buying a fire safe that doesn’t necessarily protect against theft, and vice versa. Your insurers will be able to help you choose a suitable safe and suggest minimum standards of specification.

Secure cages...
Secure cages in the stock room can provide additional security for high value stock. They can be constructed using expanded metal sections or created by increasing the protection within an existing internal room.

Vehicle traps...
Fixing bollards into the ground around your premises will protect against ram raiders, but you will need to consult your local planning authority and your landlord. Some designs of bollard can be removed during trading hours. Large concrete plant containers can be used as an alternative to bollards. ‘Road blocker’ devices can be used to close off vehicle entrance overnight. Much depends on your location and circumstances. Your crime prevention officer can advise you.

The overall design...
If you are planning a move to a new building or intend making major refurbishments, you have an excellent opportunity to build preventive measures into the design of your premises. For example, you can build stall risers, put in multi-pane windows, ensure telephone lines are hidden and protect vehicle approaches. The Secured by Design scheme has been developed to help identify builders who have consulted the police and have incorporated specific crime prevention measures. The use of the Secured by Design logo is available to those who meet the required standards. You may also seek advice from your police force’s architectural liaison officer (ALO) who is trained specifically in building design to prevent burglary and other crimes.

And if it happens…

Remember that if you have been unfortunate enough to have been burgled, the statistics show that your risk of being burgled again is much higher. So you will need to use the advice in this booklet to upgrade your defences and not merely put things back the way they were before the burglary. Obviously if an attack takes place you will have very little time to liaise with planning authorities, the police and so on – so make contingency plans now, and arrange what you will do if the worst happens.

Watching and deterring intruders

Intruder alarms...
You may deter some potential burglars if you display evidence that you have fitted an intruder alarm. Others may be scared off if they are breaking in and hear alarm bells go off. The alarm can be linked by phone line to a monitoring station which will call the police if the alarm is activated. If your alarm is remotely monitored in this way, so that the police can respond to it, then you will normally be required to have a 10 minute delay between the alarm being activated and the bells sounding. This will increase the chances of the police making an arrest, (but will mean that your alarm will no longer have the potential to scare burglars off in the way that it would if the bells sounded immediately.)

There are many types of alarm varying in sophistication: some allow alarm systems, once activated, to be verified by listening in or viewing them remotely. You can also install systems that prevent burglars from de-activating the alarm by cutting telephone signal wires or tampering with the bell. Your insurer, and your local crime prevention officer will be able to offer further help or advice, and provide you will lists of the most established and reputable alarm dealers in your area.

Video surveillance...
Burglars are deterred by closed circuit television cameras monitoring the outside or inside of the building at night and they can also help police to detect the burglars. Stringent codes of practice need to be followed – including ensuring the date and time are incorporated into the recording – before video evidence can be successfully used in prosecution.

Controlling vehicle access...
If a burglar cannot bring a vehicle close to your premises because his access is barred you eliminate the ram raider and become less attractive proposition to burglars who depend on vehicles to drive stock away.

Locking escape routes...
Commercial burglars often plan to use exit routes that are different from their entry routes. In view of this, you need to make it as difficult to get out as it is to get in. Make sure windows, doors, panic escape bars and internal doors are well locked overnight, and shut off the power supply for loading bay shutters. Make sure rear windows, doors, escape routes, and internal doors are well locked, and isolate the power supply for loading bay shutters.

Lighting...
If you install lights that are activated by someone approaching your shop you may deter some potential burglars. Where your shop is overlooked by passers-by you will increase the chances of an intruder being noticed if you simply increase the level of lighting both inside and outside the building. But take care: if your shop is never overlooked at night (say because it is in an out-of-town shopping park) then increased lighting may simply make it easier for burglars to work.

For a copy of Your Practical Guide to Crime Prevention contact the Crime Prevention Officer at your local police station or write to:

Crime Prevention Publicity
Home Office
Room 155
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AT

Retail and Business Crime
Preventing Violence Against Staff, Customer Fraud, Customer Theft, Burglary.

Your Vehicle

Simple steps to reducing vehicle crime...

A lot of crime is against cars, motorbikes and bicycles, including theft of vehicles, and theft from vehicles. Most of it can be prevented.

Cars

• Lock the doors and close the windows when you leave the car – for any length of time.
• Don't leave anything on display – even a jacket can seem like an appealing target for a thief.
• Remove the stereo if you can. Also, tuck in wing mirrors and put the aerial down to discourage vandals.
• Never store your car's documents in the car.
• A Thatcham-approved immobiliser or steering lock can help secure older vehicles.
• Think about having components such as the windows etched with the car's vehicle registration number (VRN), and make a note of its chassis number.
• Keep your car keys in a safe place, even in your house, so that someone breaking in cannot steal your car too.

For more information:

You can get copies of the following Home Office leaflets:

• 'Steer Clear of Car Crime'
• 'Steer Clear of Bike Crime'

Visit the website www.secureyourmotor.gov.uk for more information

Car-jacking

Car-jacking has become a high-profile crime over recent years, mainly because media attention has made people aware of it.

You can help prevent yourself being a victim of car-jacking by:

• keeping your doors locked in built up areas, and trying to keep the windows wound up, especially at traffic lights;
• being aware of what people are doing around you;
• using the middle lane, if there is one, when waiting at junctions or lights, so that your car is harder to get to from the pavement;
• not stopping to help someone who has broken down (if you really want to help, pull over at the next garage or police station, and call for help); and
• driving to the next garage or police station and reporting them if someone tries to pull you over for no reason.

Sometimes car-jackers may 'accidentally' bump into your car, aiming to get you out of the car so that they can steal it. If this happens, you may choose not to get out of the car – especially if you do not think it is a genuine accident. Wind the window down a little bit to talk to them if you want to.

Bicycles

• Get a good bike lock (D locks or combination locks are best. Look for Sold Secure Ltd approved locks, or ask for a recommendation at a bike shop).
• Lock your bike to something secure – a bike rack or lamppost. If there are no bike racks, you could ask the local council if they can put some in.
• Lock up removable parts (for example, wheels) or take them with you (for example, light fittings).
• Think about having your bike security-marked or engraved

Motorbikes

• Always lock your bike, and set its alarm if it has one.
• When leaving your bike for some time, try to lock it to something secure. At home, you can fit special attachments to lock your bike to.
• Use a motorbike cover.
• Have the vehicle marked with its vehicle identification number (VIN).

Buying a used car

Most car sellers are genuine, whether it is a private sale or through a garage. However, some traders are not genuine and may sell on stolen cars.

You can protect yourself by following the advice below.

• Contact an organisation, such as the AA, who will be able to tell you whether the vehicle has been stolen or in a crash.
• Always arrange to meet the person selling the car at their house, not your house or at another meeting place.
• Check any security etchings to make sure they match and have not been removed.
• Always check the registration documents and service history.

For more information:

Phone the AA on 0870 600 0371 or visit the AA website.

You can also phone the DVLA on 0870 240 0009 or visit the DVLA website.

CCTV

The Partnership was successful in obtaining funding of approximately £170,000 (£92,000 of which came from the Home Office CCTV Initiative Round 1) towards the capital costs of installing a new 9 camera CCTV system in Berwick town centre. The new system, which has proven to be extremely successful, is linked by fibre-optic cable to a control room located in Berwick Police Station.

Two further bids for Home Office CCTV Initiative Round 2 funding have also been successful.

• £23,000 towards the connection of a stand-alone CCTV system at Berwick Railway Station to the control room at Berwick Police Station to improve monitoring arrangements
• £8,000 towards the purchase of a portable CCTV camera for use by the Council’s Environmental Health Unit against antisocial crime, such as dog, fouling, litter, criminal damage, fly-tipping and other forms of nuisance which affect the quality of life.

The acquisition of a more sophisticated ‘mobile’ CCTV camera, which can also be deployed in fixed positions for long periods, and could be used in rural areas, is also being investigated by the Partnership.
 

Further Actions

• As part of our Action Plan we will review the operation and effectiveness of CCTV systems, including compliance with data protection and human rights protocols, to provide an accurate assessment of their contribution to crime reduction within the strategy.
• CCTV system to be maintained, and enhanced where possible

Fire Safety Advice

Fire and Rescue Service BHQ
Morpeth, NE61 2EF

E-Mail: ksimpson@northumberland.gov.uk
Telephone:- 01670 534650
Named Contact:- Stn O K Simpson

COMMUNITY SERVICES - Fire & Rescue and Emergency Planning
"I am very proud that our brigade has one of the best response times in the country making it one of the safest places in the UK to live, work and visit. Nevertheless we are committed to improving all our Emergency Services for the public and are delighted to now be working alongside three other brigades as part of the North East Fire Strategy Partnership Board."

Councillor Peter Hillman, Executive Member for Community Services

Our Fire and Rescue Service
We provide fire fighting cover and rescue services for the people of Northumberland and those who visit our County or pass through it. We attend around 5,000 incidents a year and rescue many people and animals from a variety of situations. The service is controlled centrally from Headquarters in Morpeth and we have 20 fire stations situated strategically around the county.

We train our firefighters and drivers to a very high standard to ensure that incidents are attended as quickly and safely as possible. We also offer a variety of courses to local industry in fire safety and fire fighting.

A large part of our county is covered by retained fire fighters, who are members of the community with other jobs, but who respond to calls when available. If you are interested in becoming a retained fire fighter, please contact our Personnel department on (01670) 534713.

Fire Safety
Our Fire Safety Section is based at the Headquarters in Morpeth, and all inspecting officers have a geographical area of responsibility linked to each of the Districts Councils. We work closely with these District Councils and local businesses to ensure that all new buildings and developments are constructed to meet current safety standards.

Our Citizen's Safety Academy
This is a new initiative we have launched to help provide a safer community for us all to live and work in. The aims of the initiative are to reduce the number of fire fatalities and injuries, the numbers of arson related incidents and hoax emergency calls, and to improve quality of life in the community by:

• Providing better access to services and improving quality of service
• Enabling adults and young people to access quality training and guidance in community and safety issues
• Offering training regarding fire safety in the home
• Educating children in the dangers of fire
• Tackling the root causes of social problems, including working with disadvantaged young people
• Emergency Planning

Disaster or emergencies can have a variety of effects on society and the environment, and a combined response is required linking the expertise and resources of many agencies. An emergency could include air or rail crashes, severe weather, flooding, oil or chemical pollution.

Our Emergency Planning Department works closely with the Uniformed Emergency Services, the six District Councils and others to respond to the community's needs in an emergency. Our main responsibilities include the preparation and validation of plans - covering emergency community assistance, feeding and rest centres, oil pollution and radiation emergencies, among others. We also train County and District staff for their role in an emergency.

Who to contact
Fire and Rescue Service and Emergency Planning are a part of the Northumberland County Council Protective Services Directorate based at:

Northumberland Fire & Rescue Services Headquarters
Loansdean, MORPETH, NE61 2ED
Tel: (01670) 533000

Fire and Rescue E-Mail - protectiveservices@northumberland.gov.uk
Emergency Planning E-Mail - eplan@northumberland.gov.uk

CFO John McCall - Chief Fire Officer - (01670) 534701
DCFO Brian Hesler - Deputy Chief Fire Officer - (01670) 534702
ACFO Alan Borthwick - Assistant Chief Fire Officer - (01670) 534703
DO Alex Bennett - Head of Operations - (01670) 534711
DO Alan Locke - Head of Training - (01670) 534708
DO Ted Cromar - Head of Technical Support - (01670) 534709
DO Neil Cook - Head of Fire Safety - (01670) 534710
Ian Fyson - Head of Finance - (01670) 534707
Michael Brewis - Head of Personnel - (01670) 534706
Bernie Quinn - Head of Performance - (01670 534649

Berwick Area Commander: ADO Robin Clow - Berwick - (01289) 330753

Fire Safety (Berwick): Stn O Danny Stephenson - Berwick - (01670) 534643

DO Andy Clough - Community Fire Safety - (01670) 534673

Ian Clough - County Emergency Planning Officer - (01670) 534705