Teesside, the Crime Capital of the UK... & It’s Not Hard to See Why...

Lawless Teesside: Record Crime, Broken Policing: The True Cost of Teesside’s Crime Epidemic...

29th December 2025

For many living on Teesside, the notion that our towns have become dangerously unsafe is no longer a fringe view — it’s grounded in statistical reality and lived experiences.

From Middlesbrough’s consistently high crime severity scores to alarming increases in anti-social behaviour, the data paints a picture of a region wrestling with a level of criminality rarely seen outside of some larger cities. Recent figures even show Teesside — under Cleveland Police — recording some of the highest crime rates per capita of all forces in England and Wales, topping long lists that include big metropolitan areas & even outdoing areas such as Glasgow & Belfast...

Teesside’s Crime Rates: Off the Charts

According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) and independent assessments, the Cleveland policing area (covering Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees and Redcar & Cleveland) recorded approximately 122 crimes per 1,000 residents in the year ending March 2025 — significantly higher than the national average of around 87 per 1,000.

Breakdowns of crime types reveal Anti-social behaviour rates in the area were roughly 1.8 times the national average. Criminal damage and arson were more than double England and Wales averages. Burglary and robbery significantly above national benchmarks a well as Violence and sexual offences continuing to outpace similar regions.

Independently compiled “crime severity” measures — which combine both volume and seriousness of offences — show Middlesbrough now ranking among the highest in England and Wales. Only central London boroughs such as Westminster and Camden scored higher, but those are heavily influenced by tourism and commuter populations.

This isn’t abstract data either. These are crimes that affect everyday life on the regions streets — from thefts and violent assaults to the kind of anti-social behaviour that makes people feel unsafe walking at night or using public spaces.

Anti-Social Behaviour and Serious Violence Rising

The latest figures indicate that anti-social behaviour incidents continue to rise locally.

In the year to September 2025, nearly 19,000 incidents were recorded — a near 10 per cent increase compared with the previous year. More than half of local residents surveyed said it was a “major issue” in some local communities — double the national perception rate.

Serious violence also seems to be firmly entrenched Towns such as Middlesbrough Central, Newport, Stockton Town Centre and Hartlepool’s Headland and Harbour ward according to figures taken from the areas Police & Crime Commissioner.

Why This Feels Worse Than in London

It’s worth acknowledging that London and other major cities still see huge volumes of crime in absolute terms. However, when adjusting for population size and severity, Teesside’s per-person crime burden regularly surpasses that of bigger urban areas — including parts of London. This is why residents increasingly describe the streets as becoming effectively lawless in certain neighbourhoods with even some officers themselves telling our investigators that some streets are effective "no go areas" where officers can find themselves quickly overrun with hostile locals when dealing with incidents in certain streets.

Public Confidence in Cleveland Police: A Mixed Picture

One of the most commonly cited concerns among local residents is confidence in policing. For years, Cleveland Police has struggled with corruption scandals, blurring the lines between who's really keeping the villains in check. Critics argue the force lacks the resources to cope with metropolitan-scale crime rates, and that this has eroded public trust. But whilst its claimed some reports suggest public confidence in Cleveland Police has improved slightly — confidence still lags behind national averages.

Resource Limitations and Socio-Economic Drivers

Local leaders and police officials attribute many of these challenges to deeper, long-standing socio-economic conditions such as Austerity, persistent deprivation, high levels of unemployment and poverty, and the complex social problems that follow. The Police and Crime Commissioner has previously stated that the current funding formula leaves Cleveland at a disadvantage, given the high crime levels it must police with relatively limited resources. This “perfect storm” of social vulnerability and under-resourced policing contributes to the notion that Cleveland Police is always one step behind.

So Is Teesside the Crime Capital?

When viewed in per-capita terms — not raw totals — the data suggests Teesside, under Cleveland Police, has one of the highest crime burdens in the country. 

Whether you measure crime volume, severity, anti-social behaviour, or the everyday impact on residents’ sense of safety, the region’s statistics are troubling and, to many locals, corroborate the perception that things have gotten worse.

For local's living here — and those considering moving here — that’s not just a story about figures on a chart. It’s about real communities struggling with crime that feels pervasive, predictable, and at times unchallenged.