Residents in Darlington have thrown their support behind new council plans to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour and the growing nuisance of off-road motorcycles across the borough.
Darlington Borough Council has unveiled a new community safety partnership plan, shaped by direct feedback from residents, setting out four key priorities aimed at improving public safety and wellbeing.
Alongside efforts to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, the plan focuses on strengthening community cohesion and addressing serious issues including drug and substance misuse, domestic abuse and sexual violence.
The move comes after a recent residents’ survey revealed rising concern over safety in local neighbourhoods. Around 78 per cent of respondents said incidents of anti-social behaviour had increased over the past year, while nearly 60 per cent believed overall crime had also gone up.
The proposals were formally approved by cabinet members on Tuesday, 7 April.
Speaking at the meeting, councillor Matthew Snedker acknowledged the scale of the challenge, particularly around long-standing issues such as off-road bikes.
“The real power of this will be in how it reacts to the efforts and attempts to tackle these priorities,” he said.
“Anti-social behaviour and off-road motorcycles are long-running problems, and if there was an easy solution, we would have done so by now.”
While enforcement remains a key focus, councillors also stressed the need for greater support for vulnerable residents, particularly those affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Cllr Snedker warned that while these areas are more complex, meaningful progress would have a lasting impact on communities.
“Domestic abuse, sexual violence and community cohesion are possibly even more challenging, but the price for tackling and reducing those will be great,” he added.
The council has also taken steps to address addiction, with councillors last month backing a proposal to apply for Darlington to become a recognised ‘recovery city’ a status aimed at promoting recovery, challenging stigma and improving access to support services.
Highlighting the urgency of the issue, Cllr Snedker pointed to national trends showing 13 consecutive years of rising drug-related deaths, with Darlington recording above-average figures.
“We took a significant step forward in enabling people to seek recovery from substance abuse and I am hopeful about that,” he said.
The council says the new strategy will evolve in response to community needs, with residents expected to play a continued role in shaping how safety challenges are addressed across the borough.
