Cleveland Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a fire was set deliberately on Shelley Road in Middlesbrough. Officers were alerted by Cleveland Fire Brigade and called to the Eastwood Road area around 5pm on Thursday 6 July.
The force is treating the incident as arson and has confirmed the investigation remains ongoing. Residents and businesses nearby are being urged to check CCTV, doorbell cameras, or dashcam recordings from that afternoon and evening. Anyone who saw anything suspicious or has information can call Cleveland Police on 101, quoting the reference from the appeal. In an emergency, of course, residents should dial 999.
Arson carries a serious risk to both life and property, and the force covers around 230 square miles of the North East, serving communities across Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees. The two emergency services work closely when a fire is deemed suspicious—Cleveland Fire Brigade attends first and then alerts police at the earliest opportunity, as happened here. Similar investigations in Teesside have previously led to arrests and prosecutions.
For anyone who would prefer to stay anonymous, the independent charity Crimestoppers can be reached on 0800 555 111. Information can also be submitted via the COPA smartphone app. Details passed to Crimestoppers are never traced or recorded.
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