A row has erupted between Labour and Conservative politicians over antisocial behaviour, with both claiming the other was rarely seen in their town. Stockton North MP Chris McDonald was slammed by local Conservatives after he said the high street was busier and safer with seven-day-a-week policing in a video where he encouraged residents to support local businesses.

While he acknowledged that “everything isn’t perfect”, Conservative councillor Niall Innes branded him “out of touch” and claimed he had been seen little in town, adding that residents asked if he was “for real” or “insulting their intelligence”. Cllr Innes, who represents Hartburn, said: “Local people know what Stockton is like. It’s clear from social media that the Stockton North MP is completely out of touch with what local people think.”

Stockton High Street (Image: LDRS)

McDonald insisted that he had visited dozens of businesses and organisations, and said the opposition councillor had also not been seen in town, and blamed the town’s decline on Conservative leadership, adding that Cllr Innes made “petty political points”.

However, Cllr Innes said residents felt that parking charges introduced by Labour reduced footfall in the town centre, and added that Conservatives will continue to “do everything” to push the council and the police to be more proactive in tackling issues.

McDonald said: “Local people are rightly concerned at the long-term decline of the High Street and the challenges we see. Let’s be clear: we face real challenges in Stockton, and we don’t shy away from them.

“But those challenges didn’t appear overnight. They’re the result of 14 years of Conservative government, which saw 500 police officers cut from our region, child poverty rise sharply, and retail crime escalate under a £200 shoplifting amnesty. We’ve stopped that amnesty.”

He said shoplifters were now being caught in Stockton and prosecuted, and that Labour was delivering more police officers, and more prison spaces than “Conservatives managed in 14 years”, adding that this was just the beginning of their work.

Operation Shield was implemented this year to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in Stocktown town centre, using measures like public space protection orders and joint patrols

Adam Bateman, problem-solving and partnerships officer for Stockton Council’s community safety team, said it was linked to substance misuse, shoplifting and aggressive begging.

Stockton Council leader and Labour group leader Cllr Lisa Evans said she was “somewhat baffled” by Cllr Innes’ comments and that she was tired of Conservatives constantly “talking down our town” which has a negative impact on businesses.

She said she was proud of the council’s work, regeneration projects, town centres investment, and work with police, and there had been recent reductions in Stockton town centre crime and anti-social behaviour and a footfall increase.

She added: “We will remain focused, fiercely ambitious and proud of our area and its people.”

Another jibe came from Conservative MP and Shadow Policing and Crime Minister Matt Vickers last week, when he said the council had a “soft approach” on anti-social behaviour that’s left a lot unchallenged, instead of using all the powers of public spaces protection orders (PSPOs).

Cllr Evans responded responded that she was “extremely disappointed” by his comments which she said were “unfair, inaccurate and inflammatory”.

She said the PSPOs, introduced after a review involving Conservative councillors, enabled officers to deal with over 1,000 incidents in two years and led to a 46% reduction in aggressive begging in 2023-4, and 11% in 2024-5 in Stockton town centre.

She added it is currently under review as required by law, and some changes are expected.

Cleveland Labour police and crime commissioner Matt Storey said dedicated neighbourhood officers worked with council community safety officers and local businesses to tackle antisocial behaviour and licensing issues in Stockton town centre.

He added that during ‘Operation Myrtle’, 12 arrests were made, including on the high street, for crimes such as theft, recall to prison and burglary.

While significant resources are being deployed on Stockton High Street, and there is “always more to do”, he added that overall crime in Stockton is down by 9%, shoplifting down by 21% and public order offences down by 14% in the last six months.

He added that Labour had started delivering more dedicated neighbourhood officers, who would start in the coming months.