Durham County Council has warned that a spate of deliberate damage to traffic signal equipment in recent weeks is creating potentially hazardous conditions for road users across parts of the county.
Where the incidents have occurred
The council says the problem has been particularly acute in the Bishop Auckland and Crook areas. Local authority engineers report that vandalism has impaired sensors and other detection equipment at a number of junctions, meaning some lights cannot now register pedestrians waiting to cross or approaching vehicles.
| Area | Reported problem |
|---|---|
| Bishop Auckland | Damage to traffic signal detection equipment |
| Crook | Recent incidents causing failures in pedestrian/vehicle detection |
Safety and financial impact
The authority emphasised that the damaged equipment can leave crossings and junctions without reliable detection, increasing the risk of collisions or near-misses for pedestrians and drivers. Council officers also highlighted the cost implications: repairing or replacing signal equipment diverts funds and staff time from routine maintenance of the county's roads and transport network.
"We've seen a number of incidents recently of traffic signals being deliberately damaged, particularly in the Bishop Auckland and Crook areas. This damage is putting lives at risk, with the affected traffic lights unable to detect pedestrians or oncoming cars."
The council did not publish a precise count of affected sites in its statement, but described the incidents as occurring over the course of recent weeks. It said the work required to make safe and restore the signals is expensive, adding pressure to the council's highways budget.
What residents are being asked to do
Councillors and council officers are urging residents to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity around highway infrastructure. The authority's appeal includes a reminder of how members of the public can pass on information to policing teams.
- Report deliberate damage or suspicious behaviour to Durham Constabulary by calling 101.
- Provide as much detail as possible: location, time, descriptions of people or vehicles.
- Take care near any signals that are not behaving as normal and use alternative crossing points if necessary.
Deliberate interference with traffic signals is treated as a criminal offence and can have serious consequences if it leads to injury. Restoring full, safe operation of the county's traffic control equipment is now a priority for highways teams, who must balance immediate repairs with ongoing maintenance in a constrained budgetary environment.
Local residents who rely on signal-controlled crossings, including older people and children travelling to school, are likely to feel the immediate effects of these incidents. The council's call for information intends both to deter further attacks and to help bring those responsible to justice.
Durham County Council has not ruled out further public updates as investigations and repairs continue.
