Middlesbrough has been gripped by a week of escalating violence, with residents expressing fear and the local MP declaring the situation akin to "terrorism." The unrest is believed to be linked to postcode gangs engaged in drug trafficking and feuds that predate a fatal crash on the A66.
Andy McDonald, the MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, has called for increased police action to address the suspected gang violence. The current wave of unrest followed the deaths of five young men in a crash on the A66 at South Bank, near Middlesbrough, when their vehicle collided with a police car while traveling the wrong way. Two police officers, PCs Matthew Blades and Tom Clough, died in the collision.
Since the A66 crash, further violent incidents have occurred. Two men, aged 31 and 23, were arrested on suspicion of murder following a house fire in Grangetown that killed seven-year-old Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34. In separate incidents, a house in South Bank was rammed by a car, and a 39-year-old man was stabbed in Eston. Police have not definitively linked all these incidents to the A66 crash.
The areas of South Bank, Grangetown, and Eston fall within the TS6 postcode, which has been identified as a hotspot for criminal activity. This postcode is understood to have a long-standing rivalry with the neighboring TS3 postcode, which includes estates like Thorntree and Park End. Individuals linked to the A66 crash gang are also believed to have connections to organized county lines gangs operating within these postcodes.
Previous convictions highlight the extent of organized crime in the area. In November of the previous year, Curtis Cremin, 19, was sentenced for running an organized county drug line that exploited young boys. He used a dedicated phone line to sell crack cocaine and cocaine, and operated from a property on the border of the TS3 and TS6 postcodes. While on bail, Cremin reportedly set up a new drug line. He is understood to have links to the A66 crash victims and paid tribute to them on social media.
Another case involved Louie Leadbeater, 18, who was jailed for three years for his involvement in a county lines gang. He is known to be friends with Cole Worthy, one of the individuals who died in the A66 crash. Laiton Hopkins, 19, also linked to the TS3 postcode, received a suspended sentence and has shared tributes to the five men killed in the crash.
Cleveland Police have described how these organized crime gangs operate openly, often in public spaces like playgrounds and outside schools, utilizing masked individuals on electric and off-road bikes. They have also been known to exploit vulnerable adults by using their homes as drug bases.
The rivalry between the TS3 and TS6 postcodes gained significant attention in 2016 due to reports of youths fighting and carrying weapons to school. Locals at the time described youths carrying hammers and metal poles and their homes being targeted with projectiles. Inspector Harrison of Cleveland Police stated then that these fights were arranged as part of a "TS3/TS6 War" and that children were reportedly carrying bladed articles.
In the aftermath of the A66 crash, police have arrested numerous individuals across Teesside on various charges, including firearm possession and involvement in organized crime. More than 200 additional police officers have been deployed from around the country to support Cleveland Police, which is one of the smallest police forces in Britain but covers an area with a high crime rate.
Recent incidents have included a vigil where youths set off fireworks and torched several cars, causing terror to local residents. The event, held in County Durham, involved cars being driven at high speeds on a field before being set ablaze. Residents described the scene as "terrifying" and "lawless."
Concerns over crime rates in the Cleveland area are significant. Home Office figures indicate it has the highest crime rate in England outside of central London, with elevated rates for shoplifting, criminal damage, arson, violence, burglary, sexual offenses, and homicides. Cleveland Police also recorded the highest rate of knife offenses among all forces.
Middlesbrough and its surrounding areas are facing a severe challenge with organized crime and gang-related violence, prompting calls for greater intervention and resources from national authorities.