Page 8 | AIBU to ask what is happening in Middlesbrough at the moment?

Netcurtainnelly · 2026-08-26T12:16:40+00:00

What's going on in Middlesbrough anyone live there? [[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gmrz8d31mo https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gmrz8d31mo]] This house fire may be linked to criminal activities at the weekend, where the policemen were killed. Just before the crash on Saturday somebody's house had been rammed with a vehicle doing extensive damage to the house? They set out in their car trying to find them and retaliate. It said it's happened to other houses as well? Is this all linked to drugs? It's horrible. Where's it going to end? Why would you want to be mixed up in all that? Is it worth your life?

itsgettingweird · 27/08/2026 12:41

SadiraOfTyr · 27/08/2026 11:59

This is an excellent point - the whole philosophy of policing organised crime has always been about building up a case against the bosses, which generally necessitates ignoring the low level stuff and turning a blind eye to the misery it causes. But bosses can be replaced easily enough, there's always someone waiting in the wings.

I wonder whether in fact working from the bottom up - relentlessly arresting and imprisoning the lower level workers, might be a better way? If you can't sell your merchandise through lack of sellers, then you are out of business.

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Except there’s always more low hanging fruit to recruit than top dogs.

Purplemoors · 27/08/2026 12:45

IsAStart · 27/08/2026 12:24

And aren’t drug dealers amongst the rich on Merseyside, private schooling for their DC’s alongside celebrities and footballers. All accepted.

The UK really does need to take stock. The approach has to be multi faceted, more prison, tighter judicial system, zero tolerance for those already engaged whilst long term social support and change as prevention for the future. Break the cycle.
An improved judicial system is essential. Some of those involved at the minute are out on bail (yet have unlicensed weapons!). They should all be locked up (and yes I know, they wouldn’t, for whatever reason, meet the criteria…which will have risen through lack of prison places…)

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Agree. The "beautiful" houses mentioned earlier will have their fair share of occupants who made their money from crime. The people at the bottom are small players in a nasty game. But they still need dealing with. We can't have lawless roads just because some of the criminal drivers are also victims.

Vallies · 27/08/2026 12:48

Purplemoors · 27/08/2026 12:45

Agree. The "beautiful" houses mentioned earlier will have their fair share of occupants who made their money from crime. The people at the bottom are small players in a nasty game. But they still need dealing with. We can't have lawless roads just because some of the criminal drivers are also victims.

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Yes. I worked at a school in a town where people who'd 'made it' and moved out of the rough town next door lived. Quite often Dads disappeared for a few years in prison. Not always gang related, sometimes fraud, but often drugs.

Pixiedust49 · 27/08/2026 12:53

I live in South Wales and same story here. Where I live feels lawless sometimes, a total loss of control from the authorities.

Purplemoors · 27/08/2026 12:54

It must be horrible. I have quite a lot of lovely law abiding friends /former colleagues in Middlesbrough and I feel worried and sad for them right now. And it's clearly not the only place this is happening

BellatrixpureBlood · 27/08/2026 13:08

Purplemoors · 27/08/2026 12:54

It must be horrible. I have quite a lot of lovely law abiding friends /former colleagues in Middlesbrough and I feel worried and sad for them right now. And it's clearly not the only place this is happening

It’s quite unnerving at the moment. I live about 10 miles away from where the incidents occurred but to get to work have to drive through central Middlesbrough. My husband has to use the a66 daily and I’ve been worried about him driving to work.

It’s a shame that our area is in the news for all of the wrong reasons at the moment

Original poster

Netcurtainnelly · 27/08/2026 13:14

SadiraOfTyr · 27/08/2026 11:47

Oh the irony - selling drugs IS their business.

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No a proper legal business.🙄🙄

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Yetanotherone12 · 27/08/2026 13:16

There’s a lot of people on here should join the police and put their ideas of how we need to tackle drugs gangs in practice 🙄

do we really think mumsnetter in Milton Keynes with the vast experience of watching the news the last couple of days know better than the police on how to tackle drugs gangs?

come on. engage brains and think why they go after the bosses and not the street workers.

a quick google will show you mass drugs arrests are common and the arrests in this case are far from unusual. It may have been triggered by intel on the phones but everyone is jumping to two tier policing and the police do nothing.

join up. Take the risks and do the work. Take your wonderful ideas and put them into practice. Then you can lecture on how it could be done better.

Original poster

Netcurtainnelly · 27/08/2026 13:21

Vallies · 27/08/2026 11:44

Oh lovely idea. Do you know how many small businesses fail in their first year? How do you imagine a business employing disenfranchised youths would fare? Would you buy a coffee/insurance/double glazing from them? That's if they even turn up and don't have their hand in the till.

It woukd be lovely if there were more businesses employing young people but they're not going to be employing these young people.

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Set up your own, or be employable from the start.
What do you think other people do ? Anyone can set up a business today. Equal opportunities for all. Princes Trust springs to mind, some people just think of an idea and go for it themselves. Watch Dragons Den tonight on TV.

Sounds like your making excuses for them. I'm sure you wouldn't if they smashed into your car or burgled your house.

They are just scum and would have carried on being scum if they hadn't been killed. World dosent need their contribution to. Life.
The police officers were everything they weren't.

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Original poster

Netcurtainnelly · 27/08/2026 13:23

Yetanotherone12 · 27/08/2026 13:16

There’s a lot of people on here should join the police and put their ideas of how we need to tackle drugs gangs in practice 🙄

do we really think mumsnetter in Milton Keynes with the vast experience of watching the news the last couple of days know better than the police on how to tackle drugs gangs?

come on. engage brains and think why they go after the bosses and not the street workers.

a quick google will show you mass drugs arrests are common and the arrests in this case are far from unusual. It may have been triggered by intel on the phones but everyone is jumping to two tier policing and the police do nothing.

join up. Take the risks and do the work. Take your wonderful ideas and put them into practice. Then you can lecture on how it could be done better.

People who take drugs are part of the problem.
Nobody actually needs to take drugs like they are selling . It's a selfish and awful choice that affects others.
Wonder what they think when innocent people get killed like the policemen.

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TheTwerkingDuchessOfMonteshitshow · 27/08/2026 14:03

Pixiedust49 · 27/08/2026 12:53

I live in South Wales and same story here. Where I live feels lawless sometimes, a total loss of control from the authorities.

which area of South Wales are you referring to please?

Badbadbunny · 27/08/2026 16:11

Backedoffhackedoff · 27/08/2026 12:19

So would you keep people locked up after they’ve served their sentence? Under what circumstances would you do that?

they had a 3 strikes and you get life law in NYC. It was repealed and is now mainly considered barbaric by modern standards

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IF they're going to carry on breaking laws if they were released, then yes, keep them locked up for public safety.

Badbadbunny · 27/08/2026 16:13

Netcurtainnelly · 27/08/2026 13:23

People who take drugs are part of the problem.
Nobody actually needs to take drugs like they are selling . It's a selfish and awful choice that affects others.
Wonder what they think when innocent people get killed like the policemen.

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Nail on the head. Especially for the "professional" types of people who take recreational drugs. They don't accept that THEY'RE part of the problem of money laundering shops, modern slavery, county lines, gang wars, etc. They seem to think a quick puff or sniff is somehow "victimless". I just don't know how people can justify themselves to the harm they cause to others.

Pixiedust49 · 27/08/2026 18:04

TheTwerkingDuchessOfMonteshitshow · 27/08/2026 14:03

which area of South Wales are you referring to please?

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I’d rather not say where I live for anonymity reasons but it’s an area very well known for anti social behaviour.

Backedoffhackedoff · 27/08/2026 18:19

Badbadbunny · 27/08/2026 16:11

IF they're going to carry on breaking laws if they were released, then yes, keep them locked up for public safety.

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And how would you know?

Original poster

Netcurtainnelly · 27/08/2026 18:27

It seems someone was stabbed today. 🤮

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IsAStart · 27/08/2026 18:28

Cleveland Police have requested more officers to be brought in from other forces.

IsAStart · 27/08/2026 18:33

Netcurtainnelly · 27/08/2026 18:27

It seems someone was stabbed today. 🤮

I hate violence and criminal behaviour, but if this has happened it would be better to have taken place at the balloon release. Least that doesn't affect anyone else - and given that the youth’s mum was asking the people bring their ‘bikes, quads, cars, jeeps - to give him the send off he deserves’ - a fitting outcome. 😌

Starlightstargazer · 27/08/2026 18:57

IsAStart · 27/08/2026 18:33

I hate violence and criminal behaviour, but if this has happened it would be better to have taken place at the balloon release. Least that doesn't affect anyone else - and given that the youth’s mum was asking the people bring their ‘bikes, quads, cars, jeeps - to give him the send off he deserves’ - a fitting outcome. 😌

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Does anyone reading the families comments on Facebook say anything? Ask them why these lads ended up the way they did? Ask them why they have extensive police records, steal cars etc? Or are people too scared to do so?

NolanChanceJustLikeTheWeatherNSoul · 27/08/2026 19:12

Starlightstargazer · 27/08/2026 18:57

Does anyone reading the families comments on Facebook say anything? Ask them why these lads ended up the way they did? Ask them why they have extensive police records, steal cars etc? Or are people too scared to do so?

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You can bet these families and associates will be the scourge and blight on their own communities.

Original poster

Netcurtainnelly · 27/08/2026 19:42

They are having to get more police in to help it seems.
Thank god for the police. Can't let the gangs rule the streets. Stay safe.

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Starlightstargazer · 27/08/2026 19:47

NolanChanceJustLikeTheWeatherNSoul · 27/08/2026 19:12

You can bet these families and associates will be the scourge and blight on their own communities.

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i can imagine 😞. So no one challenges as they can’t and therefore these people never reflect and understand how their kids have ended up as they have.

Backedoffhackedoff · 27/08/2026 19:49

Starlightstargazer · 27/08/2026 19:47

i can imagine 😞. So no one challenges as they can’t and therefore these people never reflect and understand how their kids have ended up as they have.

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Would you really ask a bereaved mother - a total stranger- on Facebook why her recently dead son was such a criminal scroat?

really?!

DriveVerySlowlyPastNumber23IWantThemToSeeMyHat · 27/08/2026 19:58

Netcurtainnelly · 27/08/2026 19:42

They are having to get more police in to help it seems.
Thank god for the police. Can't let the gangs rule the streets. Stay safe.

It's been very refreshing to see how much praise and respect has been given to the police since the accident. They do such a challenging job, it's about time they get the recognition for it.

LakieLady · 27/08/2026 20:02

Kopfkino · 26/08/2026 13:52

The family of one of the boys killed said they would still be alive if the police stopped their chase earlier. That the police have questions to answer 🤷

Or, you could’ve brought your boys up better and 7 people would still be alive.

That tells you everything you need to know about them, really, doesn't it?

It doesn't seem to have occurred to them that it wouldn't have happened if their kids hadn't nicked the car in the first place.