Project Orme in Middlesbrough tackles crime via police action, community support, and multi-agency cooperation, yielding early positive results.
This project uses a special method: police remove criminals, then patrol and help the community. A similar project significantly cut crime in Stockton. Cleveland Police reported over a third of reduction.
Many groups are helping with this project including the police, the council, Thirteen Group, and the fire brigade. Schools, probation, youth justice, Public Health, and ambulance services are also involved. A regional crime unit offers support.
Police want people to share crime info to help them catch criminals. They reported some early successes in TS3, where crime reports fell 28% in January 2025 compared to January 2024.
Police found drugs on Penny Avenue and charged a man. They seized crack cocaine and cash. Another man had 22 wraps of cocaine and was charged with drug crimes. A shoplifter was arrested after a search.
Police also seized a van because the driver drove without stopping for the police and drove without insurance. He was disqualified from driving. Another drug warrant was done on Penny Avenue and a man was arrested for drug dealing.
A man found with cannabis got summoned to court, and his electric bike got seized. Police stopped a car with drugs and cash, arresting the man and woman inside. The car was seized for no insurance, and the driver lacked a license.
Police found lots of crack cocaine on Bournemouth Avenue and charged a man with drug dealing. Superintendent Marc Anderson spoke about the project and aims to reduce crime. He wants communities to help.
Mayor Chris Cooke wants to support crime victims and feels most people hate criminals. He hopes to help young people and believes everyone needs to shares information for the project to be a success.
The council launched a survey asking residents about crime, which can be found on the council website. It’s about crime in East Middlesbrough.