Former Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston has criticized what he described as a culture of “soft justice” that allows criminals to operate with impunity, contributing to escalating violence and disorder in the town. Preston's remarks come amid a recent surge in criminal activity, including a wave of arson attacks, vehicle rammings, and feuding among local gangs.
Last week, tensions erupted following a fatal high-speed police chase that ended in a collision on the A66, killing two armed response officers, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, as well as five youths involved in the chase. The youths—Michael Cahill, 23; Jakub Matusiak, 23; Makai Saddington, 18; and 17-year-olds Cole Worthy and Theo Rae—were reportedly returning after rival gang members rammed homes linked to them in separate attacks earlier the same night.
In the days following the crash, violence intensified. Five stolen cars were deliberately set ablaze in Haswell, Co. Durham, in a disturbing tribute to Michael Cahill, while fireworks and flares were also set off. Authorities deployed 200 specialist police officers to restore order, and 24 individuals have been arrested since the unrest began. The latest arrests, involving seven men detained on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life, arson, and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, followed a vehicle stop in Grangetown. Police recovered Class A drugs during the operation.
Another notable incident involved the early morning burning of a caravan on Attlee Road, Middlesbrough, linked to the ongoing investigation. Further acts of violence included a vehicle-ramming at a home on Steele Crescent and a stabbing. Although a separate fire-bombing killed seven-year-old Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, police have stated there is no connection between that incident and the gang-related violence.
Preston, who served as Middlesbrough mayor from 2019 to 2023, expressed frustration with what he perceives as institutional failure to address the criminal elements infiltrating the town. He said a segment of society appears “untouchable,” frequently avoiding arrest or conviction, and criticized the authorities’ reluctance to incarcerate offenders. “We’ve been too full of empathy, sympathy and seeking rehabilitation,” he noted. While acknowledging the value of those approaches, he argued that public safety must take precedence when individuals are causing harm to others.
The former mayor attributed the rapid rise in gang-related violence to years of leniency, calling the current situation “the product of years of being soft” and “desensitized” to crime. He highlighted the impact on the wider community, describing criminals as having “ruined, polluted and tortured” the lives of law-abiding residents.
Investigations into the broader gang feud and subsequent crimes remain ongoing as police work to dismantle the networks responsible for the recent turmoil. Authorities have emphasized the complexity of the situation while continuing to pursue those involved in serious offenses related to the violence.