Seven men have been charged following a violent disturbance in Hartlepool on Wednesday, which Cleveland Police believe was connected to protests over a fatal knife attack on three children in Southport earlier in the week. The men, aged between 28 and 54, face charges of violent disorder. Additionally, one individual is charged with assaulting an emergency worker, while another faces charges of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. They have been remanded in custody and are scheduled to appear at Teesside Magistrates Court later today.
The unrest in Hartlepool’s Murray Street area resulted in police officers being attacked with missiles, glass bottles, and eggs. Eleven people were arrested, including an 11-year-old boy suspected of arson after a police car was set on fire. The local MP, Jonathan Brash, condemned the violence, urging calm and stating there was “no excuse” for the events.
Cleveland Police are also investigating a reported assault caught on video, showing a young boy of black or ethnic origin being punched during the unrest. The disorder in Hartlepool is part of a broader wave of disturbances across the country following the Southport attack, including clashes in central London and Southport, and a protest in Aldershot where objects were thrown outside a hotel housing migrants.
In response to the nationwide unrest, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed that “action will be taken,” announcing plans for increased cooperation among police forces to address such incidents.