A summer crackdown on criminality across Cleveland town centres resulted in some positive results according to Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey.
The Safer Streets Summer initiative highlighted the crucial partnership work being carried out to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB), knife crime, retail crime and street crime in Cleveland.
Running from 30 June to 30 September, the initiative was supported by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Cleveland Police, local councils and other local organisations as part of the wider national Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.
Locally, town centre locations across Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland saw an increase in police presence, stronger prevention and enforcement action by police, councils and partners.
Policing teams engaged with communities through proactive action days in local areas while neighbourhood officers attended local surgeries, youth programmes and packed-out summer events.
Overall, recorded crime figures show 2025 was the safest summer Cleveland has had for five years, with 1,343 crimes recorded across July, August, and September. Crime figures have not been so low since summer 2020, when there were 995 reported crimes.
This year’s figures also show a 15% reduction in crime from 2024, a year in which parts of Cleveland were hit with incidents of violent disorder during July and August.
Local performance data highlights further positive progress this year, with 21.6% of town centre crime resulting in a charge or summons to court – more than double the national average of 9%.
In Hartlepool, targeted police ‘pop-ups’ in high crime store locations, increased CCTV and free radios for retailers helped to contribute to a 50% reduction in retail crime in July. There has also been a significant drop in robbery and violence.
During the summer months there were 16 criminal behaviour orders in place in Middlesbrough which ban repeat offenders from the town. Community protection warnings were also issued for street drinking, as well as over 40 referrals to homelessness, drug and alcohol services.
Dozens of dedicated joint patrols between council enforcement officers and police teams were carried out in Stockton town Centre as part of Operation Shield – a multi-agency operation designed to combat anti-social behaviour and tackle the causes of offending in the town.
Daily high visibility patrols continued across Redcar town centre and a mobile police station provided retail community reassurance and crime prevention advice to customers. Dispersal orders powers were also used several times to prevent incidents of anti-social behaviour in the town centre.
PCC thanks those involved
As well as a series of proactive action days, Matt has also carried out town centre walkabouts with businesses, held focus groups, and attended public meetings, giving residents the opportunity to voice their concerns on issues that matter to them.
These events provided a platform to discuss issues and observe the work being done to tackle anti-social behaviour, retail crime and street crime.
Matt said: “It’s fantastic to see such positive results from over the summer months – which is often a time associated with increases in levels of crime.
“However, the work around improving public safety is a year-round effort and it does not stop. I want to thank everyone involved, from officers on the ground to community partners, for helping to deliver a safer and more confident Cleveland.”
Building on the success of the Safer Streets Summer initiative, the ‘Winter of Action’ has now been launched and will run until January 31.
It will see continued joint efforts to tackle crime in town centres and include a focus on night-time economy offences to ensure people feel safe and supported in Cleveland, particularly over the festive period.