Locals Demand Action After Fresh Altercation at Hartlepool Anti-Social Behaviour Hotspot...

Calls for action after yet another altercation breaks out at an Anti Social Behaviour Hotspot in Hartlepool.....

2nd August 2025

Locals in Hartlepool are demanding urgent action following yet another violent incident at a well-known anti-social behaviour hotspot in Hartlepool's town centre, raising serious concerns about safety as well as the effectiveness of efforts by local authorities and political leaders...

The latest incident reportedly occurred this weekend at "The Ramp" – an area at the bottom of Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, adjacent to York Road, where according to witnesses, as many as eight individuals were involved in a scuffle that left a man knocked to the ground, in what many believe was a dispute over money, alcohol, or drugs.

The incident is said to be just the latest in a string of disturbances at the location, which has long been a gathering point for individuals engaging in what locals describe as intimidating and aggressive behaviour. Residents say the ongoing disorder is deterring people from visiting the town centre, and are accusing authorities of turning a blind eye to what they see as a growing crisis.

One resident wrote on social media:

"It’s happening every week now – fighting, shouting, drinking, arguing over drugs. We don’t feel safe walking past anymore, especially with kids."

The backlash on social media has intensified, with many calling on Labour MP for Hartlepool, Jonathan Brash, to deliver upon his pledge to tackle the ongoing anti-social behaviour. Mr Brash, who also chairs the Safer Hartlepool Partnership, previously promised the introduction of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) to disperse troublemakers and impose fines for repeat offenders.

But residents say those measures have either not been enforced properly or are simply not working.

“All that happens is they get moved on, only to come back again later. It’s like playing whack-a-mole with people who have no respect for the law or the town,” one local posted online.

Critics argue that Cleveland Police and Hartlepool Borough Council are merely displacing the problem to other areas rather than dealing with the root causes. Some claim other residential parts of the town are now experiencing similar problems as a result.

In response to previous concerns, Mr Brash previously posted on social media:

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in our town and I’m committed to working with, and supporting, our police to combat crime and ASB in every part of Hartlepool.”

However, public confidence in Mr Brash's bid to tackle the problem seems to be waning.

Many now see his statements as hollow, with little sign of any meaningful change on the horizon, where a number of residents have accused the town’s leadership of treating the issue "with kid gloves" instead of taking decisive, visible action.

As pressure mounts, locals are calling for more robust police patrols, targeted intervention, and a clearer strategy from both Cleveland Police and Hartlepool Borough Council to reclaim the town centre from what many describe as a no go zone...