The worrying figures also show that attacks using noxious liquids are on the rise by 10% across the UK when compared to the year before.
Locals in Newcastle shared stories of acid attacks (Image: Getty)
The acid attack capital of Britain has been revealed, with scared locals sharing that children as young as 12 have armed themselves with drinks bottles full of dangerous liquids. New statistics obtained by a Freedom of Information (FoI) request show that Northumbria Police, which covers Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, accounted for a quarter of chemical attacks in the UK last year.
The worrying figures also show that attacks using noxious liquids are on the rise by 10% across the UK when compared to the year before, per reports. According to locals in Newcastle’s East End, acid is being used as a robbery weapon by youngsters on bikes. A shopkeeper in Byker said acid has become “the weapon of choice for young kids who think they are gangsters”, adding: “It’s actually frightening.”
Northumberland and Tyne and Wear accounted for 25% of UK chemical attacks last year, figures show (Image: Getty)
The shopkeeper was speaking to The Sun which put in the FoI request.
“You see them every day riding around on their bikes and they’re carrying a Lucozade bottle filled with acid,” they said.
“It’s a powerful acid, but they can buy it in DIY stores without being checked for a tenner and then they’ll share it out, filling their bottles.”
Locals in Newcastle spoke of their concern over the rise. (Image: Getty)
As part of The Sun’s investigation, the newspaper reports it was able to purchase a five-litre bottle of acid at a nearby DIY branch for £13.
The shopkeeper said they weren’t surprised acid attacks were on the rise “because it’s easier than buying a knife”.
They added: “I’m very wary now when I see kids coming in carrying bottles, and I know businesses who have been robbed by people threatening to swill them with acid. Some of these kids are only about 12. They’re too young to buy the acid – but old enough to use it.”
According to the newspaper, the safety label on the bottle it bought said it contains hydrochloric acid and could be corrosive to metal. Users are urged to wear protective equipment.
It said the nationwide chain store does enforce an age limit, but there were no nearby signs warning that buyers must be over 18.
A well-known medic told the paper that there has been a worrying rise in men being referred to him with eye injuries as a result of acid attacks.
Paul Laskey, 43, from West Denton, Newcastle, was squirted with acid from a bottle after going out to protect his 16-year-old son, who had been robbed of his gold chain at knifepoint.
He lost sight in his left eye following the attack and was left fearing for his life.
Mr Laskey’s eye was saved through groundbreaking surgery at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, and there is hope that further treatment could help him regain sight.
He is concerned with the number of youngsters who carry acid and said “something has to be done to stop it”.
“I was squirted in the face with a mixture of battery acid and superglue. The glue was mixed in so that it would stick to the face to allow the acid to burn away the flesh.
“It’s a horrific weapon to use on anyone, and it cost me my eye.
“As soon as the liquid hit my face, I knew I was in trouble. I could feel it burning my eyes, my nose and my mouth, and I couldn’t breathe.
“All I could do was restrain him with an arm around his neck while he tried to spray me a second time. He was also flailing at me with a Rambo knife.”
There have been 200 identified acid attack victims in Northumbria in 2023 and 2024.
Superintendent Scott Cowie, Northumbria Police’s Serious Violence lead, said the force takes every report of an acid attack “seriously” and urged any victim to get in touch “so that we can take the appropriate action”.
