Investigation Demanded After Alleged Assault by Hartlepool Open Jar Festival Security Staff...

The video posted online has gone viral through local social media groups

2nd August 2026

Disturbing footage understood to have been recorded following Saturday’s Open Jar Tribute Festival in Seaton Carew has prompted calls for an investigation into the conduct of people believed to have been working as the events security team.

Video supplied exclusively to the Teesside & Durham Post shows an unnamed individual on the ground while several people wearing high-visibility clothing surround and physically assault them.

One of the security staff is seen repeatedly ‘punching’ the unnamed individual in video footage that’s gone viral around local social media groups.

The aftermath after being assaulted by four security staff has led to questions surrounding the events security team & calls for them to be arrested for assault

The footage, recorded from inside a nearby vehicle, & lasts approximately 30 second does not show how the confrontation began, what happened inside the festival beforehand or whether the individual had presented any danger to staff or members of the public.

However, the scenes captured on camera raise serious questions about the level of force apparently used and whether it was necessary and proportionate.

During the opening seconds, several people wearing high-visibility clothing can be seen physically engaging with the individual close to a roadway and parked vehicles.

As the person filming moves the camera towards the passenger-side window, the unidentified individual can be seen lying on or close to the ground while a number of staff members gather around them.

Video does not show how confrontation started..

Its uncertain from the footage as to how the incident unfolded into a violent assault, however its led to concerns the event may now be cancelled in the future.

The Teesside & Durham Post stresses that the footage only captures part of the incident & that it does not establish why the person was being removed or restrained, whether security staff believed that somebody was at risk, whether the individual had previously behaved violently or whether any instructions had been ignored.

It’s also presently unknown whether anybody suffered injuries, whether medical assistance was offered or whether the incident was reported to Cleveland Police.

Nevertheless, those who have viewed and shared the footage are calling for the full circumstances to be independently examined rather than the incident being dismissed as a routine removal from an event.

The Open Jar Tribute Festival took place at Seaton Reach, Coronation Drive, on Saturday, August 1. Organisers advertised the event as running between 1pm and 11pm, with tribute acts performing across two stages. Ticketing information identifies Nero Entertainment as the organiser, while the festival promotes itself as attracting more than 5,000 people.

Serious questions for organisers and security contractor…

The Security Industry Authority warns licensed personnel that unnecessary, excessive or unlawful force could result in the loss of their licence, dismissal or prosecution. Government guidance also specifically allows members of the public to report security personnel suspected of using excessive force while carrying out their duties.

Although security personnel may use ‘reasonable force’ in certain circumstances, including to prevent crime or protect themselves and others, the force used must remain reasonable in the circumstances.

We have approached Cleveland Police for Comment…