Seven Men Charged Following Violent Disorder in Hartlepool
Seven men have been charged with violent disorder after chaos erupted in Hartlepool on Wednesday, Cleveland Police confirmed.
Among those charged, a 42-year-old man faces additional charges of assault by beating an emergency worker. A 28-year-old man was charged with violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. All seven men have been remanded in custody and are scheduled to appear at Teesside Magistrates Court on Friday.
Additionally, an 11-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of arson after a police vehicle was set on fire during a violent protest linked to the recent Southport stabbing.
Cleveland Police reported that 11 other individuals were arrested Wednesday evening in connection with the disorder, during which officers were attacked with missiles, glass bottles, and eggs in the County Durham town. The arrests included seven men, one juvenile, and one woman, aged between 14 and 54, on suspicion of offenses including violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.
During the unrest, approximately 150 people gathered at the Cenotaph before moving to Murray Street and the surrounding area. Four police officers sustained minor injuries. Prior to the protest, police arrested a 51-year-old Hartlepool man on suspicion of distributing written materials intended to incite racial hatred. He has been released on conditional bail pending further investigation.
A 28-year-old woman from the Hartlepool area was also arrested on Wednesday before the demonstration. She was detained on suspicion of unlawfully obtaining or disclosing protected information and distributing written materials to incite racial hatred. She has been released on conditional bail while inquiries continue.
To reassure and protect the community, Cleveland Police will maintain a visible presence in the area.
Assistant Chief Constable David Felton emphasized the ongoing nature of the investigation, stating, “Disorder of this kind will not be tolerated, and those found to be involved will be robustly dealt with.” Chief Constable Mark Webster described the events as “mindless thuggery” and noted that experienced officers had never witnessed such disorder in Hartlepool before.
Asked about the motivation behind the disorder, Webster said, “There is an opportunity to go out and damage things, and just exhibit a bit of violence. This was not a legitimate protest or demonstration.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the riots during a press conference on Thursday, calling them “not protest” and “not legitimate,” and vowing to prevent a breakdown of law and order. “Whether it’s in Southport, London, or Hartlepool, these people are showing our country exactly who they are,” Starmer stated. He emphasized that targeting mosques, attacking statues, and performing Nazi salutes are criminal acts and an assault on the rule of law.
Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme on Thursday that the unrest "doesn't represent us as a town."
A clean-up operation began in Hartlepool on Thursday morning, with council workers and volunteers working together to clear debris. A police car destroyed in the arson attack had already been removed by 10 a.m.
In a related development, Axel Rudakubana, 17, has been charged with the murder of nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, six-year-old Bebe King, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on Monday.