Labour mayor denies Middlesbrough is 'lawless', police are 'doing a sterling job' and youth clubs are the answer - but is that enough in town where drugs gangs are more violent than the IRA?

It follows a week of escalating violence thought to be linked to a gangland war between two factions of a local organised crime group in the town.

Labour mayor denies Middlesbrough is 'lawless', police are 'doing a sterling job' and youth clubs are the answer - but is that enough in town where drugs gangs are more violent than the IRA?
It follows a week of escalating violence thought to be linked to a gangland war between two factions of a local organised crime group in the town.