Police launching 'Operation Elf' to crackdown on Christmas crime in Sunderland city centre

Police in Sunderland city centre during the first covid lockdown. Northumbria Police said officers will be making their presence felt in the run-up to Christmas.

The scheme is being led by Northumbria Police and will come into force on December 2 to coincide with the end of England’s second national lockdown.

It comes as the Echo runs its Support Local campaign, aimed at encouraging Wearsiders to support the city’s shops and businesses in the run up to Christmas.

In line with previous initiatives, ‘Operation Elf’ will see more visible police patrols keeping people safe in the city centre.

Shoppers are returning to stores from December 2 after the second national lockdown, and police have pledged to keep the city centre safe in the run-up to Christmas.

It will also focus on reducing antisocial behaviour, deterring crime and dealing with any Covid-19 offences.

“For the month of December we will be doing a city centre crime and antisocial behaviour operation again,” said Inspector Jamie Southwell, of Northumbria Police.

“This year, that will be called Operation Elf, it starts on December 2 and will run up until Christmas Eve.

“The main focus is on high visibility foot patrols in the areas of high footfall and we will be focusing on violent crime and any Covid offences that we come across will be dealt with.

“And it will be to prevent and deter crime and antisocial behaviour with the city centre team taking a lead – but we also have a little bit of funding where that will bring some additional cops in as well.”

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Insp Southwell was speaking at Sunderland City Council’s East Sunderland Area Committee on Monday November 30, which was held via videolink and broadcast on YouTube.

At the meeting, Millfield ward councillor Niall Hodson raised concerns about antisocial behaviour issues at the recently-renovated Minster Park.

“There’s a lot of kids congregating there in the late afternoon / early evening and there’s skateboard and BMX,” he said.

“It’s causing a great amount of disturbance for the church and for the residents in the Almshouses. It is really noisy and obviously it is damaging that lovely new park.”

Police bosses said the site was included in the city centre operation and that they would look into the issue.

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