Public health news: Social determinants of health

Public health news: June 2024

We're talking about transport in this edition.

Transport is important. The United Nations (2016) stated that ''transport is not an end in itself but rather a means allowing people to access what they need, jobs, markets and goods, social interaction, education, and a full range of other services contributing to healthy and fulfilled lives.''

However, research by Transport for the North (TfN) showed that that 3.3 million people from across the North of England live in areas where there is a significant risk of transport related social exclusion (TRSE). In South Tyneside over 54% are at risk of category 3 to 5 transport related social exclusion, compared to 24.9% in Sunderland or 6.5% in Newcastle.

We know from the age friendly baseline assessment that there can be problems related to travel.

Examples include:

• Not being able to book a journey due to a disability or being digitally excluded
• Not being able to get to the bus stop or a station
• Difficulty getting on, getting seated or off buses or trains
• Unpleasant environments due to anti-social behaviour that discourage people from getting out and about

The solutions can be complex and a workshop is being planned for the Autumn to produce a Transport Needs Assessment.

We know that some solutions might cost too much but it's not about promising new schemes, but talking about the vision we want to work towards and the principles that should influence our work.

Work is already happening to address some of the concerns raised. 

For example there is already a plan a journey website that can be accessed by mobile phone as well as computers and other devices.

One of the actions in the Age Friendly Strategy is to promote this better and to work with the voluntary sector to help people who need support accessing the website.

Anti-social behaviour

Intergenerational debates take place twice a year in the Council Chamber.

The information and insight from these debates is being used to influence how the Council and their partners respond.

The next debate is looking at anti-social behaviour, and transport related problems is likely to be a dedicated topic.

Anti-social behaviour on transport can be reported to the British Transport Police online, by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40.

This service is for when you want to tell the Transport Police about:

• an incident that has already happened
• issues affecting your rail journey or your local station, or
• when you have a general police enquiry

If your enquiry concerns buses or roads, you can contact local police anywhere in the country by dialling 101.

Motorcycle disorder

South Tyneside Council and Northumbria Police were getting a lot of complaints about motorcycle nuisance so the Motorcycle Disorder Team (MDT) was introduced. 

The MDT is a partnership between the police, Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council. It works exclusively to tackle motorcycle related disorder. 

In the last 6 months they have seized over 50 bikes, spoken to 1000 school children, carried out 60 home visits and arrested 25 in South Tyneside.

Working as a partnership they are able to take tenancy enforcement action and work with landlords to tackle motorcycle anti-social behaviour. 

Over 400 pieces of intelligence have led to these actions. All of this information comes from our residents, businesses and visitors.

If you have any information you could share, such as where bikes are stored or who is riding them, please email Community.Safety@southtyneside.gov.uk.