Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey has praised efforts to curb crime across the force area this summer, crediting the Safer Streets Summer initiative with "fantastic" results.
The scheme, which ran from June 30 to September 30, focused on reducing anti-social behaviour, knife crime, retail crime, and street crime across Cleveland, with towns including Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, and Redcar and Cleveland seeing increased police patrols and joint enforcement.
The operation, part of the national Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, involved collaboration between Cleveland Police, local councils, and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).
Mr Storey said: "It's fantastic to see such positive results from over the summer months – which is often a time associated with increases in levels of crime.
"However, the work around improving public safety is a year-round effort and it does not stop.
"I want to thank everyone involved, from officers on the ground to community partners, for helping to deliver a safer and more confident Cleveland."
The summer of 2025 was recorded as the safest in five years, with 1,343 crimes reported between July and September.
This marked a 15 per cent reduction compared to 2024, which saw spikes in violent disorder during the same period.
The last time crime figures were lower was in 2020, with 995 offences recorded.
More than doubling the national average, 21.6 per cent of town centre crimes led to a charge or summons.
In Hartlepool, targeted police ‘pop-ups’ at high-risk stores, enhanced CCTV, and free radios for retailers contributed to a 50 per cent reduction in retail crime in July.
There were also significant decreases in robbery and violent offences.
In Middlesbrough, there were 16 criminal behaviour orders in place over the summer, which ban repeat offenders from the town.
Community protection warnings targeted street drinking, and more than 40 referrals were made to homelessness, drug, and alcohol services.
Stockton saw joint patrols under Operation Shield, a multi-agency approach to tackling anti-social behaviour and addressing its root causes.
In Redcar, daily high-visibility patrols continued across Redcar town centre, supported by a mobile police station which provided retail community reassurance and crime prevention advice to customers.
Dispersal orders powers were also used several times to prevent incidents of anti-social behaviour in the town centre.
The Commissioner took part in town centre walkabouts with business owners, focus groups, and public meetings during the campaign.
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He said these sessions gave residents a chance to voice concerns and allowed them to observe the work being done to tackle anti-social behaviour, retail crime and street crime.
Following the success of Safer Streets Summer, a new ‘Winter of Action’ campaign has been launched and will run until January 31.
The scheme will see continued joint efforts to tackle crime in town centres and include a focus on night-time economy offences to ensure people feel safe and supported in Cleveland, particularly over the festive period.
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