Police in Middlesbrough face criticism over their approach to low-level offenders amid a surge in violent crime and recent high-profile incidents in the area. Cleveland Police employs a diversion scheme, known as Divert, which allows individuals found in possession of knives, drugs, or caught shoplifting to avoid prosecution if they agree to engage with mental health and other supportive services. This programme has operated since 2018 and reportedly has had 1,853 participants through 2025.
The initiative aims to address the root causes of offending by steering first-time and low-level offenders away from the criminal justice system and towards assistance with issues such as mental health, substance misuse, education, and housing. Participants must admit their wrongdoing, express remorse, and commit to not reoffending. While the programme can include requirements to repay the community or meet with victims, these are not mandatory. Cleveland Police and the Probation Service jointly oversee the scheme, which Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey credits with reducing reoffending rates—only 4.7 percent of participants reportedly reoffend compared to 32.9 percent of other offenders in the region.
Despite these figures, the programme has drawn sharp criticism amid a recent wave of violence and unrest across Middlesbrough. Last week, five individuals died after crashing a stolen car into a police vehicle while driving the wrong way along the A66 dual carriageway, killing two officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, as well. The incident sparked further disorder, including car arson at a gathering commemorating one of the deceased, and a machete attack that left a man seriously injured. In response, Cleveland Police arrested 24 individuals in a broader operation targeting organised crime, with seven men detained following the machete attack.
The escalating violence has prompted calls for a tougher law enforcement stance. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp condemned the Divert scheme as “soft justice at its worst,” arguing that criminals should face prosecution and imprisonment rather than counselling. Former Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston described the situation as one where “untouchables” control the streets, suggesting that leniency towards offenders has allowed a criminal underbelly to flourish and harm law-abiding residents. He asserted that the area’s law enforcement approach had contributed to widespread community harm.
In contrast, current Middlesbrough mayor Chris Cooke stated that crime rates have decreased over the past two years, reflecting a different perspective on the town’s public safety trends.
The recent violence has raised concerns about links to organised crime in Middlesbrough, which holds one of the highest crime rates in England outside central London. A separate incident involved the deaths of a seven-year-old girl and her aunt in a house fire, with two men arrested on suspicion of murder; police have not confirmed a direct connection between the fire and the gang-related violence but have not ruled out ties to broader criminal activity.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen criticized what he called a permissive culture that has allowed gangs to act with impunity, emphasizing the need for increased police presence and resources in the region. He called for government backing to provide long-term funding to Cleveland Police and urged courts to impose custodial sentences on individuals responsible for violent crimes.
As residents and officials grapple with these challenges, debates continue over the balance between rehabilitation-focused strategies and harsher punitive measures in addressing crime in Middlesbrough.