11 year old arrested on Teesside in connection with violent disorder in Middlesbrough
A day of action has been carried out by Cleveland Police
Last updated 29th Aug 2024
An 11-year-old has been arrested on Teesside - thought to be the youngest person detained over riots across the UK, earlier this month.
Cleveland police have carried out a day of action, with strike teams carrying out raids and arrest warrants across Teesside, in connection with the violence in Middlesbrough earlier this month.
Now the force is vowing to catch anyone responsible for joining in the disorder.
Cleveland Police have now arrested 110 people following the widespread trouble in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, which was some of the worst seen in recent memory.
The force invited Hits Radio Teesside and Greatest Hits Teesside to accompany some of the 10 teams which set out from its Middlesbrough headquarters early on Wednesday to make arrests.
The teams arrested 14 people aged 11 to 43 during a series of raids.
Before the teams set out, Superintendent Marc Anderson briefed them, saying: "I was Silver Commander on Sunday August 4 and never in my 30 years' service have I seen anything like that in Middlesbrough.
"What the community had to put up with that day was completely unacceptable."
He warned officers to take their personal safety seriously and to secure the addresses they were raiding, given that suspects will know the courts have handed out hefty sentences for disorder.
One strike team arrested two people - a man aged 23 and his 43-year-old mother - on suspicion of violent disorder, from an address in St Catherine's Court, Middlesbrough.
Neighbours looked on in shock as the officers banged on the suspects' door before they were led away, with the man covering his face with a hoodie.
The arrested woman yelled at the media to stop filming her as she was escorted to a police van.
The team then moved on to an address in Limerick Avenue, Stockton, Teesside, where a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.
He swore at the media as he was filmed being led to the police van, calling reporters "muppets" and saying: "Go and get some proper news."
After the raids were successfully completed, Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Robinson, in charge of the operation to catch the Middlesbrough disorder suspects, said: "The message is 'You haven't got away with it'.
"We can identify you and we will arrest you, you will be arrested and you will be put before the courts.
"Behind every crime there is a victim and some of the stories that we have been told have been really harrowing."
At least 14 people – aged between 11 and 43 – were arrested at various areas across Teesside including Redcar, Stockton, Middlesbrough, and South Bank.
One woman, aged 43, became the hundredth person to be detained by officers.
The woman, eight men and five juveniles were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and transported to custody for questioning. Since then, five men, two aged 25 and a 22, 23 and 36-year-old, as well as a 14-year-old boy and a 43-year-old woman have been charged. The other four juveniles and three men have been released on conditional bail.
It follows weeks of investigative work by a dedicated team of detectives who have, and continue to trawl through CCTV, mobile phone and online footage of individuals suspected of being involved in the disorder that brought fear and harm to the local community.
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Robinson, leading the investigation into the disorder, said: “I’m pleased to say that the operation yesterday was a success, and we hope it provides reassurance to the community that we won’t stop in our pursuit to bring offenders to justice.
“This is due to a team of around 40 officers from across the force working around the clock since the disorder took place to identify those who chose to involve themselves in the violence that day.
“Our dedication and commitment to targeting every single one of those individuals is for the people within the community who were left fearful and scared to leave their homes.
“We have heard such harrowing accounts from terrified families with young children, and elderly people, who hid in the rooms of their homes, afraid to come out. These stories continue to spur us on every day to be relentless in catching these people.
Assistant Chief Constable David Felton said: “Cleveland Police remains determined to find those involved in the violent disorder we saw in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.
“The investigation into the disorder is very much still in train and officers continue to review CCTV, phone and body worn video footage every day.
“We will continue to identify those responsible. Yesterday’s activity demonstrates that and sends a clear message.
“We will not tolerate the actions of those whose only intent is to cause disruption, harm and divide in communities across Teesside.”