Teens turn to art to tackle anti-social behaviour

Teenagers have helped transform two underpasses with murals featuring the Tyne Bridge and Newcastle United as part of efforts to reduce anti-social behaviour.

The areas around Newcastle's West Denton Way were identified by police and the city council as having issues with cleanliness and arson.

The subways were cleaned up by the local authority with graffiti artist Mark Shields - known professionally as Mark One87 - enlisted to work with the Denton Youth and Community Project and Inspire Youth Studio West school to design and paint murals.

Mr Shields said they had "created something nice for the community".

It followed research by Northumbria University which found more than seven in 10 residents of Denton and Westerhope were apprehensive about using pedestrian underpasses.

The council, with support and extra funding provided by Northumbria's police and crime commissioner, sought to help reduce those concerns.

"We've been working with a lot of the local young people to engage them, create design ideas and then turn them into artwork which we’ve painted on the subways," Mr Shields explained.

"It's something nice and bright in areas that previously people maybe didn't want to come through and it's created something nice for the community with a bit of community spirit around it."

Councillor Irim Ali, cabinet member for a resilient city, described the project as a "fantastic example of how we can work with young people to give them a greater sense of ownership of their area".

"The designs they've come up with are bright, colourful and welcoming, and already we are hearing from local people about how they feel more confident using the underpasses as they have never looked so good.

"We hope that young people take pride in the artwork and help us to look after what they have created, in turn reducing anti-social behaviour for the benefit of all the community."

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