Neighbourhood patrols reduce town centre crime

We’ve been policing in the heart of your neighbourhood, providing visible policing in our town centres, and the results are in!

Crime in town centres has dropped by 5% across the year, with 325 fewer victims. 

Since the town centre focused patrols began in the summer, you’ve probably seen uniformed police officers out and about in our four main town centres. 

And in the months up to Christmas, officers have continued to patrol shopping centres and retail parks to engage with store managers, staff and security officers and to deter shoplifting and antisocial behaviour.

Where appropriate we’ve introduced dispersal orders for targeted areas, and we've successfully sought CBOs (criminal behaviour orders) for those who persist in committing offences in our town centres.

Retail crime in town centres across Teesside over the last year (January – December 2025) has dropped by 10% - with 141 fewer victims.

Here are just some examples of results from our main town centres:

Redcar

The Coatham ward - with its many car parks, the main retail area and licensed venues - previously had high figures for thefts from vehicles but NPTs’ efforts have resulted in just 10 offences in the whole year - with none at all in the past two months!

And after a spate of retail burglaries in November and December, Redcar’s neighbourhood officers concentrated on identifying and arresting suspects and they have already secured convictions; so far this month there has been just ONE attempted retail burglary.

There were only seven reports of retail crime in December.

Pic: Officers in Redcar engaging with retailers. 

 

Middlesbrough

Supported by the local authority, Middlesbrough NPTs use a proactive, problem-solving approach to ASB and criminality and they currently have more than 20 live CBOs - the majority for prolific and often aggressive shoplifters.

Shoplifting in Middlesbrough is down by 8.3% for the past 12 months, commercial burglaries have also fallen by 22% for the same period and for December, commercial burglaries have reduced by over 71% when compared with the same period in 2024.

Under the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, Middlesbrough NPTs welcomed an additional six officers with four dedicated to town centre work, including in new central PSPO areas. 

Pic: Town centre officer PC Chris Swales with security staff in Middlesbrough.

 

Stockton

Despite an increase in town centre crime in Stockton throughout the year, the Policing in the Heart of Your Neighbourhood focus on local patrols has helped to reduce retail crime in December by 11.8% when compared to the previous year.

At the end of December, Stockton officers arrested and charged a prolific shoplifter with 22 offences and he was remanded to court. 

And between Christmas and New Year a 23-year-old man was arrested and then charged with 28 thefts; he’s currently on remand waiting to be dealt with at court.

Early January saw Stockton officers detain two men in the Allison Street underpass. They were arrested then charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs after £2000 of crack cocaine was recovered during enquiries.  A woman was also arrested, and enquiries are ongoing.

Pic: Officers in Stockton patrolling at the Stockton Sparkles event. 

 

Hartlepool

Town centre neighbourhood policing operations, like Hartlepool’s concentrated efforts to tackle antisocial behaviour in areas such as the bottom of the ramp on York Road and around the cenotaph have made a real difference.

Violence has reduced in these areas by 64.3%, with 90 fewer victims; theft is down by 74.8%, with 107 fewer victims; criminal damage and arson has fallen by 73.9%, with 17 fewer victims; sexual offences are down by 42.9%, with 6 fewer victims; and robbery has reduced by 75%, with 6 fewer victims.

Non-victim based crime such as public order, drug possession/trafficking and possession of weapons has also seen a reduction of 75%.

Thanks to neighbourhood teams gathering intelligence by listening to communities and building evidential packs to obtain warrants to raid and search properties suspected of being used for drugs activity, records of drug related crime have increased by 110%.   

Pic: Officers in Hartlepool carrying out their daily patrols in the town centre.

 

Licensing and the night time economy

Night time economy work is a major part of town centre policing activity and our licensing officers work with all responsible authorities to keep employees, premises and clients safe.

In December alone they dealt with dozens of applications for temporary events like festive fayres and fetes, pop-ups and changes to opening hours! 

This was on top of their usual business which includes progressing new licence applications, gathering intelligence for future activity, attending multi-agency partnership meetings, and conducting routine proactive tasks like input to Pub Watch schemes, anti-spiking work, inspections and enforcement activity.

The team also continually works to identify premises in need of additional support or guidance.

During December’s Operation Artemis, the Matrix team carried out taxi licence operations with colleagues from Middlesbrough and Stockton Councils and the licensing team assisted Stockton and Middlesbrough districts in passive drugs dogs operations.  Welcomed by licensees, these deployments provide a highly visible deterrent against drug activity and a reassuring presence to pub and club staff and clients.

Pic: A group of officers carrying out night time patrols in bars and pubs over the festive period.

 

Violence

Our visible patrols to tackle antisocial behaviour, violence in pubs and bars and violence against women and girls has reduced town centre crime in Hartlepool by 15% - 162 fewer victims – Middlesbrough by 7% - 159 fewer victims – and Redcar by 4% - 25 fewer victims.

Pic: Officers in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool carrying out late night patrols to keep people safe.

 

Local Policing Chief Superintendent Rachel Stockdale said: “The commitment from all our NPTs to make our town centres safe and enjoyable to work in or visit is impressive and we’re seeing some very encouraging results.

“I want to thank everyone involved; NPTs and their specialist colleagues and staff from across the force - as well as our partner agencies - for their dedication and ongoing commitment; it is not going unnoticed and all their efforts are very much appreciated.”

Pic: Hartlepool retail patrols. 

 

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland Matt Storey added: “It’s pleasing to hear of significant reductions in town centre crime over the last year, following additional investment in neighbourhood policing across the force.

“These increased police resources have been supported by targeted hotspot patrols through Project Salus, which have not only helped improve the safety and security of our communities but have also shown the power of prevention and enforcement action by police, councils and partners.  By increasing police presence in high crime areas, great strides have been made in tackling antisocial behaviour, theft and violent crime.

“Cleveland’s violence reduction partnership CURV has also played its part in the night time economy, through funding for drug dogs, radio systems, drug safes in venues and Ask for Angela training for employees.

“These results are testament to the hard work of officers on the ground and the commitment of local communities to creating safer and more welcoming town centres for everyone.”