Middlesbrough mayor urges youth prevention after suspected gang violence
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke has rejected claims that the town is “lawless” after a week of suspected gang-related violence, praising Cleveland Police’s response and arguing that prevention must accompany enforcement. The events have intensified concern about organised crime in the area, following the deaths of two police officers and five young people in a road collision, alongside alleged retaliatory attacks and fires.
Police have made 24 arrests connected with the wider crime group, including seven on Friday, while investigations continue into several incidents that may be linked to gang activity. Cooke said Cleveland Police had lost more than 10% of its officers despite local need, called for funding based on crime pressures rather than population, and proposed a youth club in every ward plus opportunities programmes aimed at steering children towards alternatives to crime.
- Mayor rejects claims Middlesbrough is lawless.
- Police have made 24 arrests amid suspected gang violence.
- Cooke backs youth provision alongside stronger police funding.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Labour mayor denies Middlesbrough is ‘lawless’, police are ‘doing a sterling job’ and youth clubs are the answer – but is that enough in town where drugs gangs are more violent than the IRA?”.