Middlesbrough knife gangs offered option to avoid jail if they accept mental health support

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The programme aims to 'steer first-time and low-level offenders away from the criminal justice system'

Knife gangs in Middlesborough are being offered the option to dodge jail if they accept mental health support.

Cleveland Police's "Divert" Programme allows offenders who admit possessing blades or drugs to avoid prosecution by directing them to support programmes instead.

Under the scheme, offenders are given help for the "root causes of their offending behaviour", with an aim to "steer first-time and low-level offenders away from the criminal justice system".

It comes as more than 300 officers from other forces have been called into the area to contain the unrest in the town which has been gripped by a wave of suspected gang-related violence.

According to official documents, participants must first admit their offending, show remorse and sign a statement vowing not to reoffend.

The scheme is run in partnership with the Probation Service and offers criminals the chance to “repay the community”, with offenders encouraged to meet with their victims as part of “restorative justice” initiatives, however neither of these requirements are compulsory, reports The Telegraph.

One document reads: "Cleveland Divert aims to steer first time and low-level offenders away from the criminal justice system and towards support. It also signposts offenders towards help to address the problems, which lead to offending.

"Instead of charging and prosecuting offenders, Divert provides a range of support, known as pathways. They include help with mental health, substance misuse, education or housing problems."

The area of the country covered by Cleveland Police, which includes Middlesbrough, has the highest crime rate in England and Wales.

There were 123.4 recorded crimes per 1,000 population in the Cleveland area in the year to March 2026, according the latest available Home Office figures.

This is some way ahead of the force with the next highest rate, West Yorkshire (107.9), as well as the largest forces Greater Manchester (103.7) and the Metropolitan Police (101.0).

The rate for the whole of England and Wales in the year to March stood at 84.7 per 1,000 population.

Cleveland also tops the list in various categories of crime, with the force swaling with the highest rate for shoplifting (15.9 recorded offences per 1,000 people); criminal damage and arson (15.0 per 1,000); violence with injury (12.6 per 1,000); burglary (6.1 per 1,000) and sexual offences (five per 1,000).

Criticising the Divert programme, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, said it was "soft justice at its worst".

He told The Telegraph: "Criminals should face prosecution and prison, not a cosy chat with a counsellor.

"The outbreak of lawlessness and gang violence in Cleveland, which has seen nine deaths in the last few days alone, shows this approach is failing.

"The Labour Police and Crime Commissioner is part of the problem. We need a zero tolerance approach to crime and criminals."

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland said only 19 of the 322 Divert participants between April 2025 and March 2026 had been carrying a weapon or bladed article.

A spokesman said: "Considering current demand on the criminal justice system, including significant strains on the prison system, there is a growing need to consider options to resolve less serious crimes without a court process.

“Cases eligible for diversion schemes and out of court resolutions are carefully considered by police officers, considering the severity of the offence, the history of the offender and the wishes of the victim.

"An independent scrutiny panel examines the use out of court resolutions by Cleveland Police".

Hundreds of extra police officers have been drafted in to support officers after the series of recent incidents in the Middlesbrough and County Durham area which began with the head-on crash that killed PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, and five young men last weekend.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Cleveland said the past week had been “the most tragic” in the area’s history as he thanked officers for their hard work, but stressed “the outdated and ineffective funding system” for policing “disadvantages” his force.

Elsewhere, police condemned the behaviour of a crowd who set fire to a number of cars as part of a tribute to one of those who died in the A66 crash as "completely unacceptable".

Durham Constabulary said they were called to the private field in the Haswell area of the county shortly after 5.30pm on Thursday, where five vehicles were wrecked as a large crowd gathered to release balloons, flares and fireworks.

The incident in Haswell is understood to have been a vigil to remember A66 crash victim Michael Cahill, 23.