Riot Police Deployed After North Tyneside Disorder
Six arrested as misinformation about a building's future sparks violence, damaging police cars and fire engines.
Sarah Connor
Six people were arrested after violent disorder erupted in North Tyneside on Thursday evening.
The incident, around 9 PM GMT, saw riot police deploy to the Waterville Road area. Authorities closed Meadow Well Metro station as disorder escalated.
Five police cars and three fire engines sustained damage. The unrest links directly to misinformation circulating about a building's future as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
Daniel Whyte, a Northumbria Police official, condemned the events. He stated, "The shocking scenes we witnessed last night in the Meadow Well were completely unacceptable."
The shocking scenes we witnessed last night in the Meadow Well were completely unacceptable.
Whyte confirmed, "Our officers and firefighters were met with violence, including fireworks and bricks being thrown at them and their vehicles." He added that the site is planned for use as a supermarket with flats above for private rent.
Ian Miller, the building's developer, claims the flats above the supermarket would be occupied by anyone who went through the process of getting somewhere to live, including people from the estate. Northumbria Police also claims the flats would be for private rent.
Whyte stated, "We are sharing this information to stop speculation in the community." He further noted, "We have already arrested six people in connection with what happened – but we haven’t stopped there."
Those arrested on suspicion of violent disorder include two men aged 25 and 27, a woman aged 27, and three teenage boys. Whyte warned, "Anyone involved should be expecting a knock on the door."
Karen Clark commented on the situation. She stated, "There is no excuse for this kind of violence and disorder, particularly when emergency services are being attacked simply for doing their jobs."
I know how much pride the people of Meadow Well take in their community, and how upsetting and frightening these scenes will have been for residents. The actions of a minority must not be allowed to overshadow the many decent, law-abiding people who live there.
Clark acknowledged the community's pride, saying, "I know how much pride the people of Meadow Well take in their community, and how upsetting and frightening these scenes will have been for residents." She concluded, "The actions of a minority must not be allowed to overshadow the many decent, law-abiding people who live there."
Separately, Greater Manchester Police officers carried out more than 160 stop-and-searches on Bonfire Night. They arrested 17 people across Greater Manchester.
Police used dispersal powers to prevent further disorder. A drone unit tracked a group before arrests at a nearby shop on suspicion of affray.