Police have received several reports in the last week of a man indecently exposing himself on Derwent Walk between Ebchester and Rowlands Gill. A man, in his 60s, has been arrested in connection with the incident and has since been released on bail with conditions while enquiries continue. Officers areContinue Reading
The North East Chamber of Commerce will host its Partner and Corporate Business Dinner on Wednesday, 23 April, bringing together senior leaders from across the region for an evening of cross-party, cross-regional dialogue. Taking place at the Radisson Blu, Durham, the event will feature a fireside chat chaired by ShevaunContinue Reading
The spring sunshine added the perfect seasoning to a weekend full of food and family fun at this year’s Bishop Auckland Food Festival. Thousands of people flocked to Bishop Auckland town centre for the return of one of the region’s biggest food festivals, for two days of entertainment, cookery demonstrations,Continue Reading
Heading to Bishop Auckland Food Festival this weekend? Organisers have announced travel arrangements for getting to the event. Bishop Auckland Food Festival returns to the town centre on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April, for two days of fun, food and family entertainment. With over 150 stalls, festivalgoers will beContinue Reading
A crooked accountant who abused his position to orchestrate a £1.7 million tax fraud – spending the stolen cash on lavish holidays and cars – has been jailed for four years. Kenneth Scott, who ran an accountancy firm from five bases across the North East, charged clients VAT but failedContinue Reading
A brand-new launch pad membership designed to support early-stage businesses has been created by the North East Chamber of Commerce. Start Up and Grow is the latest addition to the Chamber’s enhanced membership offer, providing the tools, support and connections for incorporated start-ups in their first two years of business.Continue Reading
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen’s new Police, Crime and Justice Plan, setting out ambitious action to make County Durham and Darlington safer, stronger and more resilient to drug and alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour will be implemented from 1 April. The County Durham and Darlington PCC has consideredContinue Reading
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has praised officers for their relentless commitment to making the county safer as new figures revealed significant reductions in neighbourhood crime and serious violence. In a snapshot performance update covering October to December 2024, the County Durham and Darlington PCC reported sweeping improvements againstContinue Reading
Officers are urging the public to remain vigilant after three suspected parcel fraudsters have been arrested across the region after victims lose almost £20k. On Friday (March 28), officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) arrested a 23-year-old man in Newcastle believed to be linked to postalContinue Reading
The medals awarded to the eldest of four North East brothers who all fought with valour in the First World War are now back in his home county. The Trustees of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) bought Colonel Sir Thomas Bradford’s medals at auction, including a Distinguished Service Order. Today,Continue Reading
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has welcomed the launch of a national pilot placing domestic abuse specialists in the 999 control rooms of five police forces. ‘Raneem’s Law’ follows the murders of Raneem Oudeh, 22, and her mother Khaola Saleem, and sees specialists joining the control rooms of theContinue Reading
A North East council has selected nationwide placemaker, Muse, as its joint venture partner to deliver the first phase of a new innovation district. The first phase comprises the Durham County Council-owned Aykley Heads site, which is currently home to the authority’s County Hall headquarters. The 15-hectare site already hasContinue Reading
Increasing access to free school meals, providing warm and welcoming spaces, supporting rural communities and helping businesses to thrive are just some examples of partnership work in action in County Durham. Next week, Durham County Council’s Cabinet will receive an update on the issues being addressed by the County DurhamContinue Reading
The scale of change taking place at Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Art Gallery is now clearly visible, following the construction of a large steel frame on the site. The new structure will form an extension to the Durham city venue, almost doubling its original size. Work to redevelopContinue Reading
A large-scale clean-up operation has been launched to enhance County Durham’s communities. Durham County Council has allocated an additional £150,000 to its Clean and Green team to carry out a clean-up operation across the county. The team used the money to take on eight additional staff as well as purchaseContinue Reading
A County Durham man has been left more than £1,500 worse off and with a criminal conviction after failing to assist a flytipping investigation. Byron Cant-Raine was successfully prosecuted by Durham County Council after failing to attend an interview in relation to a flytip at Brancepeth. Ian Hoult, the council’sContinue Reading
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen is inviting residents to get involved in her scrutiny meeting focused on trust and confidence in policing. Trust and confidence in policing has declined over recent years, with a recent survey showing that nationally, over half of the adult population has little confidence inContinue Reading
Volunteers who help to keep County Durham’s coastline clean will continue to be supported thanks to council funding. Durham County Council works alongside other local authorities, and organisations such as The National Trust, Durham Wildlife Trust, Groundwork and Northumbrian Water, as part of the Heritage Coast Partnership. The partnership aimsContinue Reading
The potential for thousands of new jobs in County Durham has moved a step closer, after senior councillors agreed to progress to the next stage in a development plan. Durham County Council’s Cabinet has agreed to take the next step in its procurement process, in its plans to develop landContinue Reading
Drivers passing through Durham are being warned of enforcement coming into place at a key junction. From Monday 17 February, Durham County Council will be introducing an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera at the yellow box junction at Neville’s Cross. The Highway Code states that drivers must not enterContinue Reading
A County Durham primary school has been recognised for its work to bring the world into the classroom. Wingate Primary School has been awarded the prestigious International School Award by the British Council. The award celebrates the achievements of schools that bring an international dimension into their curriculum, enabling youngContinue Reading
Schoolchildren in County Durham have shown off their new £40m state-of-the-art learning environment to council leaders. Children at Belmont Community School and Belmont Church of England Primary School welcomed Cabinet members from Durham County Council for the official opening of their modern new shared campus – which has been funded byContinue Reading
A Durham City shop that sold vapes to children on multiple occasions, including a 15-year-old, has been ordered to close for three months. Phone Gadget, on Silver Street, has been told by a court to close its doors following a successful application by Durham County Council, which was acting inContinue Reading
Holidaymakers who decide to drive under the influence once they touch down at the airport are being targeted as part of a new police operation. The first of its kind in the North East, Operation Take Off sees Durham officers team up with Northumbria Police to take dangerous drivers offContinue Reading
A new campaign is underway to ramp up efforts to prevent burglary and car crime over the winter months thanks to funding from Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen. The County Durham and Darlington PCC has invested £18k into Durham Constabulary’s Winter Nights 2024 operation. The initiative, which runs until January 2025,Continue Reading
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has expressed her shock that young drivers can still purchase illegal and unroadworthy vehicles without compulsory checks following another tragic death. The County Durham and Darlington PCC met Karen and John Rowlands, from Durham, earlier this week to discuss the tragic death of theirContinue Reading
Today (17 December 2024) the Government has announced that it intends to provide just over £1m to be directed into Neighbourhood Policing across County Durham and Darlington. This is part of the overall funding allocation for Durham Constabulary in the next financial year (2025-2026). Police and Crime Commissioner for theContinue Reading
Twenty handheld radios have been funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour on a local business park. The County Durham and Darlington PCC provided a grant worth just over £9k for the devices, which will help businesses on Aycliffe Business Park inContinue Reading
A new online tool has been launched in partnership with Durham Constabulary, Livin and Durham County Council to help victims of anti-social behaviour in Aycliffe access support to resolve the issue. The web resource has been developed by Aycliffe IT firm Optimum Skills and provides everything residents and businesses inContinue Reading
