Six people, including three teenage boys, have been arrested after a Bonfire Night disorder in which fireworks and bricks were thrown at emergency services in North Tyneside, with a number of officers injured and multiple police cars and fire engines damaged.
Northumbria Police said its crews were attacked while responding to reports of anti-social behaviour in the Waterville Road area of Meadow Well at about 21:00 GMT on Thursday. The force said a number of officers were injured and five police cars and three fire engines were damaged.
The disorder has been linked to misinformation about a building's future as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), according to police. Police said the flats above the supermarket would be for private rent.
Ian Miller, who runs the local community centre The Meadows, told BBC Radio Newcastle that emergency services should not have had to experience assaults and "rioting and causing this amount of trouble gets you nowhere". He said the actions did not reflect most people living there.
Miller said his team had been aware of rumours circulating about the building for the past few weeks. To counter them, the community centre held a meeting for residents last month alongside the building's developer. He said the developer emphasised to those who attended the site was due to be turned into a supermarket and the flats above would be occupied by anyone who went through the "process of getting somewhere to live", including people from the estate.
So far two men, aged 25 and 27, a woman aged 27 and three teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. They all remain in custody.
Ch Supt Daniel Whyte said anyone else involved in the disorder should expect a "knock on the door". He said there would be an increased police presence in the area to "offer reassurance".
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said she was "disgusted" by the violence which she said was carried out by a "minority of idiots".
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The violence directly targeted emergency services officers, raising concerns about public safety and the risks first responders face during community unrest.
- Misinformation about housing developments is shown to be a powerful driver of disorder, underscoring the need for accurate communication in local planning decisions.
- The incident may fuel wider debates about community cohesion, policing, and how to manage anti-social behaviour on traditional celebratory nights.
Background
Meadow Well in North Tyneside has a history of social challenges and occasional civil unrest, though the area has seen community-led renewal efforts in recent years. Bonfire Night in the UK is traditionally marked by fireworks and bonfires, but has also become a flashpoint for anti-social behaviour and violence in some localities. The planned development in question involves a supermarket with private-rent flats above.
Key Perspectives
Northumbria Police: says its officers were attacked while responding to reports of anti-social behaviour; six people have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.
Ian Miller (The Meadows community centre): says emergency services should not have been assaulted; the violence does not represent most people in Meadow Well, who are "creative, positive, enthusiastic, wonderful folk".
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness: says she is "disgusted" by the violence, which she says was carried out by a "minority of idiots".
Community centre meeting attendees: were told by the developer that the site would become a supermarket with flats available to anyone who went through the proper process, including local residents.
What to Watch
- Further arrests: police have warned others involved to expect a "knock on the door".
- The outcome of the investigation into how false rumours about the building spread and whether any further steps are taken to counter misinformation in the community.
- Potential long-term community relations impact in Meadow Well, and police response strategies for future Bonfire Night celebrations.