Thousands of high-visibility patrols have been carried out across Cleveland as part of a renewed initiative to tackle violent crime and antisocial behaviour (ASB).
Project Salus is a partnership involving ASB patrols conducted by local council Enforcement Officers and serious violence patrols conducted by Cleveland Police.
Targeted patrols are carried out in hotspot areas across Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland.
The aim is to ensure increased patrols are carried out in the areas most affected by violent crime and anti-social behaviour in our area.
More than £1.4m was secured by Cleveland’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey, to support the high-visibility patrols and problem-oriented policing to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.
A total of 36 hotspot areas were identified, allowing officers and partners to carry out extra patrols in these areas where serious violence and antisocial behaviour are most likely to occur, creating safer spaces for residents and communities.
Between July and September 2025, a total of 4,529 hours of hotspot patrols were carried out in these areas, including 2,646 by local council enforcement officers and 1,883 hours by Cleveland Police officers.
Officers also engaged with 249 residents and 160 businesses during the same period and undertook enforcement action such as fixed penalty notices and section 46 warnings relating to improper waste disposal. Other activities undertaken by enforcement officers relate to antisocial behaviour, fly tipping, noise nuisance and begging.
Compliance against the targeted number of patrols carried out by Cleveland Police and local authorities was recorded as 96%, which highlights that increased patrols are being carried out when and where they are needed most.
The Commissioner praised the efforts of those involved in the work of Project Salus so far this year.
He said: “The aim of Project Salus is to ensure we have dedicated resources in the right place at the right time. We want to grow public confidence and reduce the fear of crime in all our communities and ultimately stop incidents from happening in the first place.
“Delivering more visible and effective policing is a high priority for my Police and Crime Plan because I know it’s what the public want to see to feel safe and build trust and confidence.
“Project Salus sends a clear message that criminality and nuisance behaviour will not be tolerated in Cleveland, and it is encouraging to see that the additional patrols are having a positive impact in reducing crime and building safe, strong and more confident communities.”