Hartlepool bouncing back after riots nearly a month ago

Hundreds of people took part in the violent disorder on the 31st of July

Author: Karen LiuPublished 30th Aug 2024

Tomorrow marks exactly one month since Hartlepool saw scenes of violent disorder on its streets.

Hundreds of people, including men, women and children, took part in the riots on the 31st of July in and around Murray Street.

Witnesses have been describing that night as one of the most horrifying they have ever seen, with businesses being damaged and cars set alight.

Recalling that night, Nancy Pout, manager of the nearby Salaam Community Centre, said: "We started becoming quite concerned that this was escalating so we made the decision to actually shut down the centre. We were due to have a dance school in here and we decided it just wasn't safe.

"Myself and some colleagues came down here and everyone said 'why are you going down there? It's dangerous. You shouldn't be going down there.' I said 'because this is our community and we know the people that live here and work here and we want to support them as much as we can.

"We noticed the violence was increasing; we could hear bricks being thrown, we could see bricks flying through the air and other missiles being thrown around. We could hear glass being smashed, we could hearing chanting and the police dogs, so we could hear dogs barking, we could then hear more and more bangs happening.

"It just continued. We thought it would be over soon but it just went on and on and on. When I stood there it was one of the most horrible and terrifying things that I've ever seen in this town. I'm from Hartlepool and I've lived here all my life and I didn't think I would ever see something like that happen.

"I don't ever want to see this town, not just this street, not just this ward, but this town, go through what we went through. It was horrendous."

Susan works at a laundrette on Murray Street and said: "We get police up and down pretty regular patrolling. When the Mosque's on, there's security guards outside. We were one of the lucky ones but further down at the butchers, they got their windows smashed.

"We've all come together around Hartlepool. I think the Mosque put some money towards the butchers getting their windows fixed which was really nice. We all help each other around here.

"We're a pretty quiet and small town but when something like this happens, it puts Hartlepool on the map for a bad reason.

"When it first happened, the police were practically coming in every day but we get the odd occasional one now with it being backed off a bit, but they still come around and ask how we are and to look after ourselves."

The smashed windows at the butchers shop on Murray Street in Hartlepool which is now boarded up.

John works at La Mirage and said: "They all came together to come and clean. I've never seen the place as clean as this. They all come and cleaned everything."

The far-right mass disorder was being linked to the stabbings of three young girls in Southport.

Cleveland Police say more than 100 arrests have been made and they are continuing to look for those involved in the violent disorder.

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