There was ‘no realistic way to predict’ Middlesbrough riots

This is one of the conclusions that has been drawn up following 16 months of work, which also highlighted that many of the measures now in place to support community cohesion were “reactive”, following the riots.

A “task and finish” group was established after the riots that occurred during the summer of 2024, with the objective of examining “community cohesion”. The group consisted of Labour Councillor John Kabuye, fellow Labour Councillor David Branson and Conservative Councillor David Coupe. 

The terms of reference for the group’s investigation were to identify what measures are in place to promote community cohesion and integration, as well as assessing the extent to which the measures implemented have been effective. Additionally, the trio of councillors were tasked with identifying any gaps in measures to promote community cohesion.

As set out in council papers, community cohesion refers to the ability of diverse communities to function and thrive harmoniously, valuing diversity, promoting equal opportunities, and fostering positive relationships between people from different backgrounds.

Cllr Kabuye spoke about Middlesbrough as being one of the most deprived local authorities in England, as well as being very ethnically diverse. Middlesbrough is by far the most ethnically diverse council area in the Tees Valley, but it should be noted that the town is slightly less diverse than the UK average, according to 2021 UK Census data.

Middlesbrough was by no means alone in the riots, which took place on Sunday, August 4, 2024, following the murders of three young children attending a summer dance class in Southport. Other North East locations to witness civil disorder – between the end of July and beginning of August – were Sunderland and Hartlepool. Local context highlights that approximately £750,000 of damage and more than 100 arrests. 

When it comes to conclusions, Cllr Kabuye said that the working group accepted that there was “no realistic way to predict the riots”. Conclusions in their report discussed how there has been a noted increase in reported hate crime across the Cleveland Police area between 2012/13 to 2022/23 from 359 to 1,562. There was a further increase of 11% in the period 2024/2025 which was influenced by the riots of 2024, documents explain.

MICA Councillor Ian Morrish asked about funding received from the government designed to reduce the risk of future disorder. Cllr Morrish asked whether the “right groups” had been targeted with funding. He said that he suspected that victims would have been on the receiving end of the funding, and asked whether “culprits” should have been targeted to try and get them to understand what they had done was wrong. It was later confirmed during the meeting that all of the money had now been spent.

Middlesbrough Labour Mayor Chris Cooke spoke about three aims. He highlighted supporting those who had been affected, increasing awareness, and working with those who were either perpetrators or got caught up in the violence. He said: “There is still ongoing, attempts to communicate with those who are still locked up”, highlighting: “letter writing back and forth, where they’ve actually written to some of the people who were affected and conversing”. 

Additionally, Mayor Cooke discussed how Labour Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey had gone into prisons to interview people, in order to better understand why people had participated in the riots. Mayor Cooke highlighted one woman who had been involved in the riots and used the experience as a “catalyst to change” her life, and was now clean from drugs. He added: “It was a real hard hitting moment when she ended up locked up for the riots.”

Mayor Cooke also highlighted a coffee morning that had taken place in the south of the town, “absolutely, in no way, anywhere near some of the activities, but it’s important that we understand what’s important to that community and actually they understand what’s happening in the rest of the town. So actually, there were events which were funded which weren’t in Newport, weren’t in Central”, as it was important to tackle the three aims at once, Mayor Cooke outlined. 

When it comes to potential recommendations from the group, Cllr Branson said: “To be proactive, that means we need to pick up whether there’s a problem building.” He described the role of social media as “a real problem”, with the events in Southport, hundreds of miles away, being amplified online.

Cllr Coupe meanwhile set out how he had been struck at the time by the testimony of nurses from the hospital who had been directly affected by the riots. “They could see someone trying to smash their door down, and what harm have they done to anybody? They were here to help us.” He said people in the town needed to feel welcome and not like others “hate them”.

MICA Councillor Mick Saunders asked what other factors contributed to the riots beyond “right-wing rhetoric”, to which Cllr Branson highlighted the problems Middlesbrough has faced of losing some of its key industries, meaning that lots of people have seen their income drop and “people are going to look for someone to blame for the problems they have”. He said a lot of people are worse off – in real terms – than they were 20/30 years ago.

A council officer also pointed out that a report from the Children’s Commissioner discussed animosity towards the police from young people as a reason for participation in the riots.