Latest news with #DurhamConstabulary
BBC News
14-07-2025
- BBC News
Consett Holly Lodge 'fully destroyed' in arson attack
A house which police described as an "amazing property" has been destroyed in an arson Lodge in Ebchester, Consett, which was empty at the time but had been home to a family for five decades, was gutted in a fire on Constabulary is asking the public to alert them of any videos circulating on social media of the blaze at the site, which they said was "popular with urban explorers".Officers confirmed no-one was injured in the blaze. A spokesman said: "The fire has fully destroyed this amazing property which was home to a family for over 50 years."He added the building had been deemed unsafe which "means that even the emergency services will not be able to enter the property". Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
Spennymoor woman appears in court over 'assault' after video shared on social media
A woman has appeared in court over an alleged assault linked to a video shared on social media. Kelsey Bainbridge wept as she appeared in the dock in a grey tracksuit at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on Monday (July 7) after her arrest over the weekend. It came after a video was shared on social media after the alleged assault. She entered no pleas against any of the charges against her – two counts of wounding with intent and one of possession of an offensive weapon. Her case was sent to Durham Crown Court where she will appear on August 4. Her dad watched from the public gallery as his 26-year-old daughter, of St Paul's Gardens in Spennymoor, was remanded in custody until that time. "Tell the bairn that I love them", she exclaimed as she was taken down to the cells. Police previously asked people not to speculate about the video. A Durham Constabulary spokesperson said: 'We were made aware of a video circulating on social media following an alleged assault at an address in Spennymoor yesterday morning (July 6). "Police attended and arrested a woman in her 20s. Read more: Two men arrested after crash as police seize suspected class A drugs Scuba instructor's bravery awarded after saving 18 divers in strong winds off Malta Officer who sent sexual Snapchats 'did same thing four years ago', police were warned "She has since been charged with two counts of wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. "The 26-year-old is due to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court this morning. "We would kindly request that members of the public refrain from speculating on any circumstances surrounding this incident or calling us further about it at this time so we can keep our lines open for other emergencies."
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The Independent
05-07-2025
- The Independent
‘I caught a brazen shoplifter stealing beer – he didn't even get punished'
A shopkeeper who dragged a taunting thief back to his store said the man's punishment sent out the wrong signal to other potential criminals. The shoplifter casually opened a can of Foster's beer as he walked out of Core Convenience in Durham without paying for a £10 crate of the lager. But he was stopped by store owner Andrew Board, who grabbed him and brought him back to the entrance. Despite Mr Board's brave actions, officers at Durham Constabulary did not take the matter to court after locating the suspect, who admitted to the offence. Instead he was dealt with through a community resolution, often used for minor offences or incidents of antisocial behaviour, and does not result in a criminal conviction. Under the solution, the offender paid back the money for the beer and was then banned from the entering the shop. 'This is a wrong signal and fuels the problem,' said Mr Board. 'A person then knows that they can steal as they wish, and if they get caught, they would just have to pay for the goods then. 'On this case, there was essentially no punishment for attempting to steal goods. He could have got away without paying, but as I caught him, he was just made to pay for it. No deterrent in the legal sense.' Mr Board said he dealt with several shoplifting incidents at his store every week. He has had to make multiple citizen arrests and enhance the CCTV system within the shop as a result of thefts. Sought-after items for criminals, such as Lurpak butter, 20-can packs of Budweiser and large bottles of Comfort softener, have had to be removed from shelves. Mr Board's battle with shoplifters reflect a national issue with police receiving a record number of reports for shop thefts last year. But most reported offences do not lead to punishment. Home Office data analysed by The Independent showed just 18 per cent of reports of shoplifting resulted in a person being charged or summoned to court in 2023/24 in England and Wales. In more than half (56 per cent), police failed to identify the suspect and the case was dropped. Of those sentenced for shoplifting at court in England and Wales last year, 27 per cent received a custodial sentence. Mr Board said that because of the time it took to get a case to court, the community resolution given to the offender for the offence was 'probably the best option to get the money back fast'. But he added: 'It shouldn't be like that. We should get our money back quickly, and they should get punished.' Last week, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced that extra officers will be deployed on the streets of 500 towns in a summer crackdown on shoplifting and antisocial behaviour. She said: 'Residents and businesses have the right to feel safe in their towns. But the last government left a surge in shop theft, street crime and anti-social behaviour which has left too many town centres feeling abandoned. 'It's time to turn this round, that's why I have called on police forces and councils alike to work together to deliver a summer blitz on town centre crime to send a clear message to those people who bring misery to our towns that their crimes will no longer go unpunished.' A Durham Constabulary spokeswoman said: 'We take this type of offending extremely seriously and work hard to tackle the issue across our force area. 'A large proportion of shoplifting offences are opportunistic and committed by people with drug or alcohol addictions. That's why, as a force, we must look at the bigger picture and find out why individuals offend in the first place and seek to address the underlying reasons for their offending.'
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
Sadness as body of missing Shildon man Curtis Davies found
A body has sadly been found in the search for missing Shildon man Curtis Davies. Police confirmed specialist search teams found the body, believed to be that of Curtis. Curtis, who worked for Durham police, had been missing since last Sunday (June 22) and his family, friends and colleagues have been informed and are being supported by specialist teams. His death is not being treated as suspicious. A spokesperson from Durham Constabulary said: "We are very sorry to report that a body has been found in the search for Curtis Davies, one of our Durham Constabulary colleagues. "The body was located by specialist search teams in the Shildon area this morning (Sunday, June 29). "Formal identification has yet to take place, but we believe it to be that of 32-year-old Curtis from Shildon. LIVE: Fire service tackling 'smoke' coming from DLI Museum in Durham Northumbria Police to install defibrillators in every response car by summer Renewed calls for calm as youth gangs blamed for more damage in County Durham town "We would like to thank everyone who assisted in the search for our friend and colleague, and who worked closely and considerately with officers on the ground. "Curtis' death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner. "Our thoughts remain with everyone who loved Curtis."- Samaritans is available, day or night, 365 days of the year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@ or visit to find your nearest branch. - If U Care Share on 0191 387 5661 or text IUCS to 85258 - SANE on 07984 967 708, Calm on 0800 58 58 58
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
Police incident in County Durham as cordon remains in place
A police cordon remains in place this morning after an incident late last night in Bishop Auckland. A heavy police presence remains at the scene as parts of Newgate Street are still tapped off. The incident is believed to have occurred at 11pm on Saturday, June 28. In a statement given late last night, Durham Constabulary said: "Due to an ongoing incident, Newgate St in Bishop Auckland is closed between the Market Place and Tenters St." The incident is believed to have happened outside the Tap and Tun pub. In a statement posed on Facebook this morning, a spokesperson for Tap and Tun said: "During an incident between two members of the public outside our venue last night, one of our door team was injured and received medical treatment. READ MORE: Wallsend brute punched pregnant partner in stomach then slammed her head against wall READ MORE: Hoppings car park chaos as drivers report being 'stuck for up to three hours' on the Town Moor "The safety of our Operator and staff is of upmost importance and we take acts of violence against them incredibly seriously. We are supporting our team following the incident. "We continue to aid the police in their ongoing enquiries and the venue will remain closed for today." Durham Constabulary have been contacted for further statement on the incident. Our ChronicleLive Daily newsletter is free. You can sign up to receive it here. It will keep you up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East.
