Church opens 'safe space' after disturbance in Darlington

Officers attended the North Lodge Park area on Monday evening after two large groups - made up of mostly males - gathered shortly after 9pm. 

Small pockets of violence broke out across the evening, with Durham Constabulary saying bricks were hurled at officers at the scene. 

Police arrested one 18-year-old on suspicion of violent disorder, assaulting a police officer and possession of a controlled drug.

Police in Darlington following violent disorder (Image: The Northern Echo)

Now, the Darlington Baptist Church, on Corporation Road, has opened its hall for people to come and enjoy a safe space following the disorder on Monday night. 

A spokesperson for the church said: “We are here if people want to come for a cup of tea, a biscuit, or a chat. It is a safe space and you don’t need to worry. We won’t be able to know that the church cares about the community.”

Darlington MP Lola McEvoy and Durham Police have both slammed the disorder on Monday, with Ms McEvoy reassuring people that "violence and intimidation will not be tolerated in our town and those responsible can expect to face the full force of the law." 

Residents in the North Lodge Park area have also spoken out following the disorder, with some describing scenes of "aggravations" amongst groups of youths. 

One woman, 58, said: “It was hard to miss. They went down this street and there was a lot of aggravation – there were just a lot of people standing around.

“I think people were trying to protect the mosque in case anything happened. 

“I believe there were a few things up Gladstone Street – someone said there was someone throwing stones. A motorbike also kept coming up and down our street shouting obscenities. It started about 3pm and went on until about 1am.”

Ms McEvoy came to visit the scene of the incident on Tuesday morning, speaking to police officers stationed outside the mosque.

She attended a police briefing later in the morning - and will speak with leaders of the mosque this afternoon.

One man, who has only lived on the road for several months, said the incident outside the mosque was simply “idiot" youths who were "trying to antagonise and threaten the community trying to protect the mosque."

He explained: “There wasn’t much in the way of disorder - there were a few motorbikes and dirt bikes and they were bombing them past. Kids on bikes were also shouting abuse.

“But I didn’t see any fighting or anything thrown.”

Josh Spears, chair of the Friends of North Lodge Park, spoke at the scene. He also attended the clean-up in Middlesbrough on Monday following riots in the town. 

Josh Spears, chair of the friends of North Lodge Park (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

He said: “I’m really happy to see a good police presence in Darlington today, who are working with the community to keep the street safe.

“We need to address why young people were here last night and why they thought it was okay to be riding around on bikes, causing trouble, and causing a disruption, and how we can give a young people a stake in this town.”