Weardale Police

19/06/2026

🚓 Weardale Police Update 🚓

It’s been another busy week across the Dales! Here's a round-up of what we've been up to so far 👇

✅ Operation Checkpoint
Earlier this month, Weardale Police, alongside officers from Crook NPT and our dedicated Special Constables, carried out high-visibility patrols in hotspot areas across the Dales. 👮‍♂️👮‍♀️

✅ Operation Drive
Working with our Police Cadets, officers carried out a letter drop in the Wolsingham area to raise awareness around the use of off-road bikes and related concerns. 🏍️📬

✅ Off-Road Bike Seized
CSRs Lowther and Walton, with support from DCC Neighbourhood Wardens, seized an off-road bike with no insurance, tax or MOT in the Frosterley area. 🚔

✅ Community Speedwatch
Our fantastic volunteers have continued their Speedwatch activity across Weardale. So far this month:
🚗 511 vehicles monitored
⚠️ 15 speeding vehicles identified
📨 Warning letters have been issued

We've also listened to feedback from our communities, resulting in:
📍 3 new Speedwatch locations in Wolsingham
📍 1 new location in Cowshill

✅ Cows on the Loose! 🐄
CSRs Lowther and Walton responded to reports of cows on the road in Wolsingham. The owner was quickly identified, and the herd was safely mooooved back into their field.🐄

✅ Supporting Vulnerable People & Road Safety
PC Graham and PC Blakelock attended a road traffic collision in Wolsingham, assisting our Roads Policing Units. They also responded to concerns for a vulnerable person, with the appropriate safeguarding referrals made.

✅ Missing Person Search
CSRs Lowther and Walton assisted in the search for a missing person in the Upper Dales, covering over 140 miles. We are pleased to report the person was located safe and well.

✅ Drugs Seized
PCs Graham and Blakelock seized drugs from an individual during proactive policing activity. Investigations remain ongoing. 🚔

If you see something that looks suspicious please call 101, or 999 in an emergency 📱

17/06/2026

⚽️ We want positive results on the pitch, not off it.
🚗 Drink and drug driving kills. Don’t risk it!

⚽️Tonight’s the night!

For all you England fans, we know you’ll be gearing up for the excitement of the first England game.

Some of you will enjoy the game, have a great time and get home safely.

Some of you will get too drunk, take illegal drugs (or both) and put yourself or someone you love in the morgue after wrongly thinking you’re fine to drive.

We’re not being dramatic; this is the reality our officers see with a 20.9 per cent spike in road traffic collisions on England match days from 2016 to 2024.

That’s why we’ve launched a specific road safety campaign for this world cup.

Teaming up with our emergency service partners last week, we invited media outlets a road traffic collision demonstration.

They were able to see someone being cut out of a crashed car and bring it to your teatime screens on BBC Look North.

What they didn’t see are the death knocks our officers have to make when the people in the car can’t be saved.

Or when the driver is in court, then prison, for killing their mates.
All because they thought it was fine to drive under the influence or couldn’t be bothered to book a taxi.

We don’t want to see you sent off permanently before you can even say penalties.

🚗Drink and drug driving kills. Don’t risk it.

County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service Durham Roads & Armed Policing

05/06/2026

The communities of Weardale may already be aware of the Community Safety Responder (CSR) role a unique and demanding dual-role position in which individuals serve as both Police Community Support Officers and Firefighters, providing Police and Fire Service cover to the Dales. Historically, the role also incorporated the North East Ambulance Service, operating as a Tri-Responder.

Weardale is currently served by two CSRs: Tom Lowther and Chris Walton.

Following a recent decision, we are saddened to announce that the CSR role is being made redundant, with the final working day set for 30th June.

Since its introduction in 2015, the CSR role has been a pioneering joint venture between Durham Constabulary and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service. It has supported local communities by providing visible reassurance, engaging with residents, assisting with community safety initiatives, and responding to emergency incidents across Weardale and beyond.

As the role comes to an end, the responsibilities currently carried out by CSRs will be absorbed into existing policing and fire service structures.

CSR Tom Lowther said:
“It has been an absolute privilege to work with and support the communities of Weardale and the wider County Durham area over the past two and a half years. Speaking with colleagues who have held this position before me, many describe it as the best job in the force and I completely agree.

It has also been the most challenging role I have ever undertaken, and I am incredibly proud of what it has achieved over the past 11 years, we are grateful to have been part of it. Chris and I would both like to thank Durham Constabulary and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service for the opportunity to serve in such a complex and rewarding role.”

Both CSRs will be redeployed internally elsewhere within the force.

To mark the end of the role, we have revisited the archives and included photographs capturing moments from throughout the years.

Thank you for your support.
Tom and Chris

21/05/2026

⛓️‍💥 Three in the cells.

More than 20 officers from neighbourhoods, Dog section, Motorbikes and CID, were involved in a targeted operation to clamp down on rural burglaries yesterday morning.

Three men, aged 19, 23 and 26 were all arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary after raids at addresses across Weardale and Teesdale uncovered two quads believed to be stolen. Officers also worked in partnership with Cumbria Constabulary tackling cross border offences and criminals.

These 3 arrests are just the start, with more expected to join them as a result of intense police work to target rural burglaries in recent months.

🗣️ Inspector Andy Reeves said: “We will not tolerate criminals who try to target our rural communities and will relentlessly pursue all who think they can commit crime on our patch.

“We will continue to carry out these targeted operations and I want to thank Rurali members for their continued support.”

18/05/2026

🚨 Weardale Police Update 🚓

Following on from recent thefts in Wolsingham, officers have been out completing letter drops for insecure vehicles in the area. Always lock your vehicle and keep items out of view. 🚗🛻
If you see anything suspicious overnight, please call 101 to report or dial 999 if a crime is actively being committed. 📱

PC Graham and PCSO Whitby have been continuing their studies, by completing modules for both Plant Equipment and Livestock Handling to help better identify and target crimes in those areas. 🚜🐑🐄

The team seized a White Mitsubishi Outlander after it gained entry to fields causing damage and allowing livestock to escape. 🚔

Another vehicle was seized from Frosterley after being used in crime in another force area. ⛓️

Our Community Speedwatch Volunteers have been out in Weardale, so far this month 676 vehicles have been observed and a total of 40 warning letters have been sent. 📸📨

Dual role Police/Fire Community Safety Responders Lowther and Walton have been completing Home Fire Safety Visits in the Weardale area. If you live in County Durham and would like a visit for free smoke alarms you can complete the form at https://www.safelincs.co.uk/hfsc/?ref=DDFRS and you can request a visit from your local Fire Station if required 🚒👨‍🚒

08/05/2026

🚓 Weardale Neighbourhood Policing Team – Community Update 🚓

Over the past few weeks, officers and volunteers from the team have been busy tackling crime, engaging with the community, and helping keep our rural areas safe. Here’s a snapshot of recent activity across the Dales 👇

🔹 Stolen Vehicle Recovered
A stolen Toyota Hilux reported stolen from North Yorkshire has been successfully located and recovered by officers. One male was arrested in connection with the incident. Enquiries remain ongoing.

🔹 Poaching Patrols – Brotherlee Area
Following reports of suspected poaching near Brotherlee, officers stopped three males in the area. Two catapults were seized and Community Protection Warning Notices (CPWs) were issued to all three individuals. Rural crime patrols will continue across the area.

🔹 Section 59 Warning Signs Installed
New Section 59 warning signs have now been placed around Stanhope and Bollihope following concerns raised by residents regarding anti-social vehicle use. We continue to work with the community to address nuisance driving and off-road vehicle issues.

🔹 School Engagement – Wolsingham
PC Elliott and PCSO Whitby recently attended Wolsingham School to engage with pupils and staff. Officers discussed safety, policing, and community issues with students. The team plans to attend regularly to provide educational talks and maintain positive engagement with young people. 👮‍♂️👮‍♀️

🔹 Community Speed Watch
Our fantastic Community Speed Watch volunteers have been active across the Dales in recent weeks. A total of 22 vehicles were identified speeding and will be dealt with accordingly. Thank you to all volunteers helping to make our roads safer. 🚗💨

👏 Thank you to everyone who continues to report concerns and support local policing. If you see suspicious activity in your area, please report it via 101 or online. In an emergency always dial 999

30/04/2026

Never giving up.

On Tuesday night a call came into our force control room following concerns for a vulnerable woman who had gone missing from her home in Tow Law.

Urgent search enquiries were launched by our quick-thinking call handler and dispatcher, with officers from South Response, Stanhope Neighbourhood Policing Team and Dog Section taking to the ground with support from the National Police Air Service (NPAS) from the sky.

🐶After PC Laura Armstong and PD Dutch traced the woman’s car to a remote area in Stanhope, officers concentrated their search on the fells on foot.

🚁NPAS colleagues then spotted the woman lying in a remote area of the fell, with all units racing to the spot.

Tri-responders Tom Lowther and Chris Walton administered oxygen to the lady who was suffering from suspected hypothermia and urgent first aid was administered before NPAS transported the patient to hospital for treatment. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Officers were then able to give her very worried family the good news.

We can’t always share what we get up to, but this is just one of the jobs that we responded to this week to keep the public safe.

28/04/2026

🚨 Appeal for Information – Theft Incidents 🚨

We are appealing for information following a number of thefts that occurred in the Lydgate Avenue and surrounding areas of Wolsingham between 23:30 last night and 04:30 this morning (28/04/2026).

Officers are keen to speak with anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area around this time. We are also asking residents and businesses to check any CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage that may assist with our enquiries.

If you have any information, please contact PCSO 8884 Whitby via email at: [email protected]

Your information, no matter how small it may seem, could be vital to our investigation.

Thank you

You can report incidents via 999 in an emergency or 101 in non-emergency. If you wish to report information anonymously you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800555111.

17/04/2026

🚔 Neighbourhood Policing Update 🚔

Here’s a snapshot of some of the work carried out by your local team:

👮‍♂️ Officers assisted in the arrest of a male in connection with an incident in Barnard Castle.

🔍 Two males have been arrested in relation to a number of burglaries in the area.

🚐 Three vehicles were seized in Wolsingham — one suspected to be stolen and the other two found to have no insurance. Thanks to Durham Special Constabulary for the assist in recovering one of these vehicles.

🔹 Property reported stolen during a burglary has been successfully recovered.

🚨 Our Speed Watch volunteers have been active across the dale, completing 14 deployments. As a result, 28 warning letters have been issued to drivers exceeding the speed limit.

👣 Foot patrols have also been carried out across the area.

🚒👮‍♂️ We also carried out a joint visit with the Fire Service, where local school children had the opportunity to see and learn about the emergency vehicles used by both services.

💻Keep in the know – want to know what is happening in your local area. Visit this link - https://www.keepintheknow.co.uk/ and sign up.

📱You can report incidents via 999 in an emergency or 101 in non-emergency. If you wish to report information anonymously you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800555111.

26/03/2026

PCSO Whitby and CSR Walton had a fantastic visit today with the children. Thanks for the cakes!🚓🚒