Police in Middlesbrough, England, are facing accusations of implementing "soft justice" through a program that allows individuals caught with weapons or drugs to avoid prosecution by engaging with mental health support. The initiative, known as Divert, aims to steer low-level and first-time offenders away from the criminal justice system by addressing the "root causes of their offending behavior."
The practice has drawn sharp criticism from opposition politicians. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the program as "soft justice at its worst," stating that "criminals should face prosecution and prison, not a cosy chat with a counsellor." He called for a "zero-tolerance approach to crime and criminals" in response to recent violence in the Cleveland area.
The controversy emerged in the wake of a series of incidents, including a fatal crash on the A66. Five individuals died when their stolen car collided with a police vehicle while traveling the wrong way up a dual carriageway. The crash, which also killed two police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, is being investigated for potential links to organized crime. Shortly after, a seven-year-old girl and her aunt died in a house fire, and a man was left with stab wounds in a separate incident involving a machete attack.
These events have fueled claims from former mayor Andy Preston that "untouchables" control the streets and that years of lenient policies have fostered a criminal element that has "ruined, polluted and tortured" law-abiding citizens.
Middlesbrough has one of the highest crime rates in England. The Divert program, launched in 2018, has reportedly seen 1,853 participants as of 2025. Under the program, offenders must admit their wrongdoing, demonstrate remorse, and sign a pledge to not reoffend. While participation can include community service or victim restitution, these are not mandatory components. The program, a collaboration with the Probation Service, offers support for issues such as mental health, substance misuse, education, or housing.
Matt Storey, the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, has credited Divert with reducing reoffending rates. Statistics indicate that only 4.7 percent of participants reoffend, compared to a regional rate of 32.9 percent for all criminals in the area. However, current mayor Chris Cooke stated that crime has decreased in the past two years.
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