As of February, Middlesbrough was reported as having the ‘highest rate outside London’, with 166 offences for every 1,000 people — the equivalent of one crime for every six people living there. Only two boroughs, Westminster (with 434 offences per 1,000 people) and Camden (189 offences per 1,000 people) experience a higher crime rate than Middlesbrough.
However, journalist Samantha Teasdale wasn’t deterred. She set out to see for herself what the North town has to offer – and whether it really seemed that crime-ridden there. After driving to the town from Durham, the first thing Samantha encountered was audaciously expensive parking within the Captain Cook multi storey car park – annoying, but not a crime.
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A crime map shows Middlesbrough has some of the highest crime rates (Image: Daily Mirror )
However, it was only upon leaving that Samantha spied a sign that said that “it was only £3 for 3+ hours, if you parked on higher levels”.
Taking to the centre of town, Sam was unsure how Middlesbrough could be so notorious for crime – with “no smashed windows of businesses, police tape, graffiti – which are normally the tell-tale signs of anti-social behaviour”.
However, an obvious sign of a troubled past lay in the shopping areas – with CCTV cameras on every business window and a security ‘help point’ telephone outside a closed down restaurant.
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CCTV signs and gated area in Middlesbrough (Image: Samantha Teasdale )
But these reminders aside, the town centre was still ‘thriving’, even in the wake of the losses of Debenhams and House of Fraser. The popular shopping mall Cleveland Centre was busy, even despite the fact that it was a weekday and not a half term.
Samantha “was sad to see a lot of businesses closed and litter was more predominantly found”, leaving her feeling a little more cautious walking around.
A panic/security emergency alarm outside Middlesbrough town centre (Image: Samantha Teasdale )
Albert Park offered a mixed bag again – with gaps in the perimeter fence and graffiti, but an overall lovely space, with “amazing facilities’ including six tennis courts, a croquet and bowls area fenced area, children and teen separate park areas, a boating facility and a skate park.
According to Samantha, it was “a child’s summer holiday dream as there was so much to do”, with everything seemingly well-looked after.
Beautiful golden fountain in Albert Park – unfortunately vandalised with graffiti (Image: Samantha Teasdale )
Overall, she had a “lovely but cold day in Middlesbrough”, and the only intimidating thing that she witnessed was “a few drivers having arguments and a motorbike with four riders wearing a masks”.
She conceded that “with rose-tinted glasses, it is a lovely city with lots of green spaces but often it is the places least expected that can be the pinpoint of crime”.