Residents that are caught in the crossfire of an alleged gang feud that is tearing through the UK city of Middlesbrough say they feel too scared to even show their faces, and are worried that their homes could be targeted next.
Locals have described a terrifying atmosphere created by a series of suspected revenge attacks in response to the horror A66 crash that killed seven, including two serving police officers. A fire believed to have been caused by an act of arson also killed two more people Valentina Foster, aged seven, and Natalie McDonald, 34, but is not thought to be connected to the A66 incident.
Sources have claimed that much of the violence comes from a feud between two rival gangs, which has seen tit-for-tat acts of criminal activity as well as masked men taking to the streets.
In Acklam, one home now stands behind large metal barriers after a car was deliberately rammed through its bay window on the same night as the horrific A66 crash last month.
Neighbours say people are petrified to speak out, with one resident telling the BBC: “They should be scared, shouldn’t they, that something’s going to happen to their property if they say anything or get involved. So we don’t.”
Another local said violence in the area was “getting worse”, adding: “They’re always balaclava-ed up as well, do you know what I mean?”.
Another added: “I’m terrified my son will end up like them, he’s only 10, I don’t want him to grow up like that.”
Two of the youths involved in the violence explained: “You’re born and bred and brought up with it. What do you expect? You don’t know anything different.”
One teenager added: “I’ve never needed the police in my life. I’d rather die than ring the police.”
Cleveland Police have admitted to struggling with the surge in crime, with the force’s Chief Constable calling for “additional funding” to help handle the wave.
Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said: “I need that support all the time. We’re doing the very, very best with what we’ve got – and we absolutely do need more.
“In the meantime, we need additional funding to take us to the point where Cleveland becomes one of the big, strategic forces that has the resources, flexibility and capability to surge when it needs to.”
The violence has come under intense scrutiny since seven people were killed on the A66 on August 22.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died after a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the road collided head-on with their police vehicle.
All five people inside the Passat – Michael Cahill, 23, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, 17, and Cole Worthy, 17 – were also killed.
The chain of events is believed to have begun when a Volvo XC60 was rammed into the Acklam home of Cole’s father, Gye Worthy. There is no suggestion Mr Worthy is involved in criminal activity.
More than 20 people have since been arrested as part of a wider operation into what police have described as “serious and organised crime”.
More than 200 additional officers have now been deployed across Middlesbrough and surrounding communities as police attempt to suppress the violence and identify those behind it.