ON ‘P***head Corner’, a group of worse-for-wear locals tuck into cans of cheap beer while commuters hurry past on their way to work.
Charity shops, boarded up stores and nail salons dominate the high street, while drug deals take place in broad daylight and drunks brazenly swig from bottles of spirits.
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Yet this scene of deprivation is just yards from the picturesque seafront of South Shields, with a stunning stretch of golden sands and a recently regenerated promenade.
This weekend 60,000 athletes will cross the finish line of the Great North Run, running a mile along the coastline at Sandhaven Beach, after competing the gruelling race from Newcastle.
But beyond the funfair, restaurants and elegant Victorian park close to sands, the rundown streets tell a story of years of neglect and residents speak of a dark underbelly of crime, alcoholism and drug taking.
Steven Smith was once a successful painter and decorator but is now a self-confessed alcoholic desperately trying to get sober.
We speak to him at the town’s transport interchange, dubbed “P***head Corner” due to its popularity among drinkers.
The 42-year-old said: “Having the Great North Run is all well and good but the crime rate is diabolical.
“I got beat up just last night. It was for no reason at all. I was walking through the row of shops in the centre and I ended up in hospital. I woke up there.
“There were three lads and they jumped me for nothing. They were probably trying to steal from me but it knocked me out.
“I’m walking and talking and that’s the main thing, but it’s not nice. They did it because they are a***holes, and it didn’t surprise me to be honest.
“South Shields is getting worse for it. The town was given some money a while ago but it hasn’t been spent wisely.
“I don’t take drugs but I’m an alcoholic trying to ween myself off.
“The other day I walked around the corner and saw someone smoking a crack pipe in front of kids.”
Steven believes the town’s younger population are at risk of falling into the same trap.
The other day I walked around the corner and saw someone smoking a crack pipe in front of kids
Steven Smith
He added: “I had some kids ask me last week to go in the shop for them to buy drink. They couldn’t have been older than 13 or 14.
“I told them I wasn’t going to do it. I don’t want to encourage anyone to drink. It ruins lives.”
Addiction crisis
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Damning data from the Office of National Statistics speaks of an alcohol crisis engulfing the town and the surrounding area.
Across 2022 to 2023, 777 per 100,000 people in South Tyneside were admitted to hospital for an alcohol-related reason. The figure was sky high compared to the rate of 475 across England as a whole.
During the same time period, 62 per 100,000 under 18s were admitted as a result of consuming booze, while the England rate stood at just 26.
The number of people suffering from alcoholic liver disease in South Tyneside was also nearly double the national rate. There were 304 per 100,000 in the region, compared to 156 in England.
By mid-morning, groups of men and women eagerly waited outside the town’s pubs ahead of opening time.
Meanwhile, a gaunt couple were handed a package by a furtive-looking man before rushing from the bustle of the interchange.
People are always on drugs giving you abuse when you walk past. Even if you have a child with you, they do it all the time.
Ex-McDonald’s worker Chloe Mycock
Ex-McDonald’s worker Chloe Mycock used to dread taking breaks during shifts at the nearby fast food restaurant due to unsavoury characters loitering outside.
Chloe, now 21, said: “Alcoholism is a major issue. People are always on drugs giving you abuse when you walk past.
“Even if you have a child with you, they do it all the time. Groups of kids go through the bus station on bikes and they will harass you without a care.
“One hundred per cent it makes me wary of going outside on my own.
“I used to work at McDonald’s and I would come and sit outside on my breaks to get some fresh air. But there would be crowds of people outside and it made me feel unsafe.
“This was during the day so I definitely would not feel safe coming out at night-time.
“I think a lot of these people come from certain parts on the outskirts of the town and they congregate together in the centre.”
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Retired police officer Dave Binding, 81, added: “The place is dirty, although it is the same as anywhere else these days.
“People used to come home after work, get changed, and go for a night out.
“But now they might have a quick drink and then go home and stay there, perhaps due to fear of walking the streets.
“There are places around here that are no-go areas, which common sense dictates you stay away from.
People used to come home after work, get changed, and go for a night out. But now they might have a quick drink and then go home and stay there, perhaps due to fear of walking the streets
Retired police officer Dave Binding
“But I ask, what more can you do? We have a country that we deserve now, not one that we want.
“I’m seeing the problem happen more often with drinks in South Shields. I feel sorry for the staff at A&E because it must be like a conveyer belt.
“They must tell each other ‘I saw him yesterday’ but what more can they do?
“This place suffers from the same rash – the same nail bars, the same barbers and second-hand shops.”
Child poverty
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A recent BBC study ranked a third of the neighbourhoods in South Tyneside among the most deprived in the country.
The child poverty crisis was deemed so severe the council recently announced a four-point plan in a desperate bid to reduce levels.
In 2020 to 2021, around 39 per cent of children in the South Tyneside area were living in poverty according to council data.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators will flock to the town to watch the competitors finish the 42nd Great North Run, which was founded in 1981, when just 12K took part.
The event was masterminded by former Olympic medallist Brendan Foster who wanted to create a fun run in his home region. Mo Farah dubbed the 2013 race his favourite ever, despite not winning, due to the tremendous support from the sidelines.
One woman, who didn’t want to be named, said: “The Great North Run is great for the area but people only ever see the nicer part of South Shields at the coast when it’s on TV.
“I don’t think the people who come here for the run will to rush to return.
“People used to come to this area to live but now they try and get out because there’s nothing here.
“Kids these days hang around on their bikes outside of McDonald’s and people don’t feel safe.
I don’t venture out in the town when it’s dark because people are up to no good on their bikes
Anonymous
“Child poverty is definitely an issue in the town. A lot of the younger generation don’t go on to higher education.
“If they’re not lucky enough to grow up in a nicer area, they often get stuck in a poverty cycle.
“There aren’t many jobs and people have to travel elsewhere.
“The foodbank in nearby Hebburn gets really busy.
“I don’t venture out in the town when it’s dark because people are up to no good on their bikes.”
Intoxicated groups
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Sarah Wytcherley, a 40-year-old warehouse worker, said: “Crowds of intoxicated people gather in the town all of the time.
“They sit outside the bus interchange and that’s not what people want to see when they’re visiting the town for the first time.
“It has always been a problem with Shields as far as I’m aware. It doesn’t look very nice.”
One worker at the interchange believes police have been making an effort to move on the hoards of drunks.
He said: “It has been bad. It is has gone downhill as a whole. You see them spiced out of their heads and it puts fear into people.
“There was an incident not long ago where a kid on a bike hurt a disabled guy. It doesn’t look good for town at all.”
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Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council told The Sun: “The Great North Run showcases the beauty and spirit of our borough.
“But behind the scenes, we’re working every day to make sure that spirit is felt in every neighbourhood – tackling inequality, improving safety, and creating opportunity for all.
“We’ve never shied away from the challenges some of our communities face and we have worked hard to tackle them head on, targeting our support to make things fairer across the borough and redress inequalities.
“We know that issues like child poverty and alcohol-related harm have a real impact on people’s lives, and that’s why we’ve taken bold, proactive steps to address them.
“We’ve launched the North East’s first Child Poverty Strategy, bringing together partners across the region to take coordinated action — from working closely with schools and providing baby boxes to new parents to helping parents with the costs of school uniforms, school meals and holiday activities.
“We’re also refreshing our Alcohol Strategy to confront the borough’s high rates of alcohol-related deaths. This includes improving access to support services, challenging cultural norms around drinking, and tackling health inequalities head-on.
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“To tackle long-term challenges, we’re investing in both our places and our people. Our regeneration plans go beyond the seafront — they’re about creating opportunity across the borough.
“The relocation of South Tyneside College into the town centre, backed by millions in external funding, will breathe new life into South Shields.
“Through the Community Regeneration Partnership, we’re also delivering real improvements in Hebburn, Jarrow and beyond. Programmes like South Tyneside Works and regional skills initiatives are helping residents access training and support.
“And by attracting major employers, we’re creating jobs and helping local people step into them.”
Superintendent Lisa Laverick, of Northumbria Police, said: “Alongside our partner organisations, we strive to make South Tyneside as safe as possible a place for people to live, work and visit.
“As a Force, we fully understand the detrimental impact that crime can have on the lives of residents and always aim to tackle these issues head on using a range of tactics.
“We carry out a number of proactive operations during each year, including Project Shield patrols which aim to reduce anti-social behaviour and serious violence incidents while also engaging with our communities to retain and build their trust in us.
“We also run the Safer Transport Northumbria initiative which allows commuters to raise any issues while using public transport with us, while our dedicated Metro Unit regularly patrols the Metro network to identify any criminality and take the appropriate action.
“This has helped us to achieve a 19 per cent fall in the number of recorded ASB incidents in South Tyneside in the past year, and our focus remains on improving this even further.
“Our teams do their utmost to build on our ever-growing intelligence picture so that we can target offenders and get them before the courts to face justice.
“As ever, we rely on the support and assistance of our community so please continue to work with us by providing information on crime or suspicious activity if you become aware of it in your neighbourhood.
“Together, we can keep South Tyneside the welcoming borough it is.”