Hubbry Logo
Cleveland PoliceCleveland PoliceMain
Open search
Cleveland Police
Community hub
Cleveland Police
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Cleveland Police
Cleveland Police
Cleveland Police
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Cleveland Police
Logo of the Cleveland Police force
Logo of the Cleveland Police force
Agency overview
Formed1 April 1974; 51 years ago (1974-04-01)
Preceding agencies
Employees2,067[1]
Annual budget£95.4 million[2]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionNorth Yorkshire (part)
County Durham (part)
Map of police area
Size231 square miles (600 km2)[3]
Population569,000[3]
Legal jurisdictionEngland and Wales
Constituting instrument
General nature
Operational structure
Overseen by
HeadquartersMiddlesbrough
Police Officers1,198[1]
Police Community Support Officers130[1]
Police and Crime Commissioner responsible
Agency executive
Local Policing AreasHartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees
Website
www.cleveland.police.uk Edit this at Wikidata

Cleveland Police is a territorial police force in England responsible for the policing the boroughs of Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland in North Yorkshire and Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham within North East England. The force is overseen by the Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner. Since 2022, the chief constable has been Mark Webster.

The force covers an area of 231 square miles (600 km2) with a recorded population of 569,000 in 2011. Geographically, the force has the second smallest police area of the 43 territorial police forces of England and Wales, after the City of London Police.[5] The force is responsible for policing a predominantly urban area with higher levels of deprivation than average in the United Kingdom.

In terms of officer numbers, Cleveland Police is the 12th smallest of the 48 police forces of the United Kingdom. As of September 2017, the force had 1,274 police officers, 278 police staff, 124 police community support officers and 64 special constables. In the 2019 annual assessment by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, Cleveland Police was rated 'inadequate' overall and rated 'inadequate' in all review areas, concluding that "crime prevention isn't a priority for the force and this is a cause of concern".[6][7]

History

[edit]

The force was established as Cleveland Constabulary on 1 April 1974, covering the newly created county of Cleveland (which was abolished on 1 April 1996, being replaced with the four unitary authorities). It was renamed Cleveland Police, from Cleveland Constabulary.

It is a successor to the Teesside Constabulary,[8] and also part of the York and North East Yorkshire Police and part of Durham Constabulary. The police area is the second smallest geographically, after the area covered by the City of London Police.

Under proposals made by the Home Secretary on 6 February 2006, a proposal for a merger with Northumbria Police and Durham Constabulary to form a single strategic police force for the North East England was suggested. Cleveland Police proposed instead merging with the southern area of Durham Constabulary.[9] In July 2006, the plans to merge the three forces were abandoned.

New force headquarters

[edit]
Cleveland Police HQ in Middlesbrough

On 31 January 2007, the new headquarters in Middlesbrough were opened, boasting a 50-cell custody unit including a purpose-built prevention of terrorism suite, one of only three in the country. It has been designed to increase the speed and safety of detainee handling with secure vehicle docking, video links to court and CCTV links in all cells for improved prisoner safety.

The Middlesbrough headquarters is the centrepiece of Cleveland Police Authority's multi-million pound private finance initiative project which has also seen a new headquarters for Redcar and Cleveland district and new town offices in Redcar and South Bank. The building, which was officially opened by the then Home Secretary John Reid, is seen as not only the spearhead to policing Cleveland in the 21st century but also the gateway to the regeneration of the St Hilda's area of the town and the flagship Middlehaven project.[10]

On 5 January 2009, the force launched its cadets programme, something which many other police forces have operated for some years. There are 20 places available in each district, and the cadets will meet each week in groups run by police officers, police community support officers, youth workers and volunteers. There will also be the chance to gain recognised qualifications, such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Placement into special measures

[edit]

In September 2019, Cleveland Police was put into special measures after Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) rated the service as inadequate overall and in three key areas: the extent to which the force is effective at reducing crime and keeping people safe; operates efficiently and sustainably; and treats the public and its workforce legitimately were all found inadequate.[11][12][13]

The report by HMICFRS stated that Cleveland Police were "putting the public at risk," with staff describing the force as "directionless, rudderless and clueless". The report criticised high-ranking officers and staff for "not taking responsibility" of the force, with some "not acting with honesty, integrity and competence". Vulnerable people including children were not identified and left at risk. Despite large numbers of domestic abuse victims being repeat victims offenders were not always proactively pursued. There were delays before police tried to locate youngsters reported missing. Some victims of honour-based violence and survivors allegedly had had a "terrible experience". Crime rose 17.6% in the year to 2019 but according to the watchdog, "crime prevention isn't a priority for the force and this is a cause of concern". The quality of investigations needs improvement, the watchdog maintains.[14][7][15]

A year after the publication of the report, Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Barry Coppinger of the Labour Party resigned. Coppinger cited stress and the workload impacting on his health for his resignation. His resignation was immediate in September 2020 and an interim PCC took over until an election for the post in May 2021,[16] in which Steve Turner of the Conservative Party was elected.

Chief constables

[edit]
Cleveland Police Vauxhall Vivaro pictured in 2011
  • 1974–1976: Ralph Davison[17]
  • 1976–1990: Christopher Payne[17]
  • 1990–1993: Keith Hellawell[17]
  • 1993–2003: Barry D. Shaw[18]
  • 2003–2012: Sean Price, (dismissed for gross misconduct)[19]
  • 2013–2016: Jacqui Cheer[20]
  • 2016–2018: Iain Spittal[21]
  • 2018–2019: Mike Veale[22]
  • 2019: Lee Freeman (Interim chief constable following Mike Veale's sudden departure)
  • 2019–2021: Richard Lewis[16][23]
  • 2021–2022: Helen McMillan (Acting chief constable after Richard Lewis' departure)[24]
  • 2023–present: Mark Webster[4]

Police and crime commissioners

[edit]
  • 2012–2020: Barry Coppinger, (Labour).
  • 2020–2021: Lisa Oldroyd (interim following resignation of Coppinger).
  • 2021–2024: Steve Turner, Conservative.
  • 2024–present: Matt Storey, (Labour).

Officers killed in the line of duty

[edit]
See also: List of British police officers killed in the line of duty
Cleveland Police Patch

The Police Roll of Honour Trust and Police Memorial Trust list and commemorate all British police officers killed in the line of duty.[25] Since its establishment in 1984, the Police Memorial Trust has erected 50 memorials nationally to some of those officers.

Since 1893 the following officers of Cleveland Police were killed while attempting to prevent or stop a crime in progress:[26]

  • Police Constable William Henderson, 1893 (shot attempting to disarm a man).

Force structure

[edit]

As of September 2017, the force had 1,274 police officers, 278 police staff, 124 police community support officers and 64 special constables.[27]

Cleveland Police area is divided into four local policing areas (LPAs), previously known as districts, which are coterminous with the four unitary authorities of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees. These LPAs are split between North and South of the River Tees for operational purposes.[citation needed]

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request in July 2018, Cleveland Police published (in October 2018) the organisational structure of its 'Basic Command Units / Local Policing Units / District Policing Teams or equivalent'. The chart shows the number of police officers of each rank assigned to each unit.[28]

Matrix team

[edit]

In January 2024, Cleveland Police launched the Matrix team, modelled on a concept first employed by Merseyside Police and consisting of mergers and 'one team' partnerships between the force's units, including the Operational Support Unit, which was renamed to 'Tactical Disruption Team', Firearms, the Dog Section and Roads Policing. Vehicles in this unit were given Matrix logos, with vans belonging to the Tactical Disruption Team also painted a high-visibility yellow;[29][30] rebranding the vehicle fleet included in the Matrix team cost £20,000 from within Cleveland's fleet budget.[31]

PEEL assessments

[edit]

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMICFRS) conducts a periodic police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL) inspection of each police service's performance. In its latest PEEL inspection, Cleveland was rated as follows:[32]

  Outstanding Good Adequate Requires Improvement Inadequate
2021/22 rating
  • Recording data about crime
  • Treatment of the public
  • Responding to the public
  • Disrupting serious organised crime
  • Managing offenders
  • Investigating crime
  • Protecting vulnerable people
  • Developing a positive workplace
  • Preventing crime
  • Good use of resources

Alleged or actual offences involving serving officers

[edit]

In 2007, it was reported that Detective Constable Steve Pennington, who was convicted of a drink driving offence in 2000 and jailed for four months, had been granted a £500,000 pay-off by the force garnering much criticism from members of the public and anti drink driving campaigners.[33]

In April 2012, Cleveland Police admitted liability for "malicious prosecution" and were ordered to pay out over £841,000, one of the largest compensation sums in UK police history. The court was told former PC Sultan Alam was "stitched up" by fellow officers after he launched industrial tribunal proceedings in 1993, complaining of racial discrimination following a series of incidents that included a Ku Klux Klan poster being left on his desk. Cleveland Police admitted that officers suppressed evidence that led to Alam being wrongfully imprisoned for conspiracy to steal motor parts and enduring a 17-year battle to clear his name.[34] Alam, who was, as of 2012, considering a position in public office, did not believe that the force had improved and stated that racism had gone "underground", with ethnic minorities being denied the same opportunities as their white colleagues.[35]

In October 2012 the force's chief constable, Sean Price, was sacked after being found guilty of deceit and misconduct. He was dismissed from his £190,000 a year job (one of the highest rates in the country for a chief constable), having been suspended in August 2011 on full pay.[36][37]

In May 2013, Cleveland Police agreed to pay a settlement of £550,000 to James Watson, a Middlesbrough solicitor who sued them for false imprisonment after being detained for almost 30 hours.[38]

In January 2019, Chief Constable Mike Veale resigned after being referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on a matter of "serious allegations" of misconduct.[22]

Shared services

[edit]

Cleveland Police shares a number of specialist policing services with other police forces.

Specialist Operations Unit

[edit]

In 2010, Cleveland Police and the neighbouring Durham Constabulary merged firearms and roads policing teams, forming the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit with bases in Spennymoor and Wynyard. Police vehicles used as part of this partnership feature both the crests of Cleveland Police and the Durham Constabulary.This partnership has since ended and both forces now display their own force badges on RPU vehicles.[39]

Dogs

[edit]

Cleveland Police and the Durham Constabulary also merged their dog sections,[40] followed by North Yorkshire Police joining the two forces.[41] The merged dog section launched in August 2016 as part of an initiative for cross-border collaboration between the three forces.[42] The collaboration ended in December 2019 and the three forces returned to having their own independent dog sections.[43]

Force helicopter

[edit]

Cleveland was previously a member of the North East Air Support Unit helicopter sharing agreement with neighbouring Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police in which all three forces shared two helicopters, one based at Newcastle Airport and the other at Teesside Airport.

In 2008, Durham and Northumbria decided that just one helicopter based at Newcastle Airport would be enough. Cleveland disagreed saying that this resource would be based many miles away from Cleveland and would leave it at a disadvantage, and would not agree to the proposal. As a result, Durham and Northumbria decided to leave the consortium of the three forces and forge a new agreement without Cleveland, leaving Cleveland to fund its own helicopter from 2009, when the former North East Air Support Unit agreement officially ended, and the Cleveland Air Operations Unit was formed.[44]

Since 2012, air support to the force has been provided by the National Police Air Service (NPAS).

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Cleveland Police

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
is the responsible for across the Cleveland policing area in , encompassing the unitary authorities of , , , and . Established on 1 1974 following reorganisation that created the short-lived of , the force merged predecessor policing entities including parts of and local borough forces. It serves a predominantly urban of approximately 567,000 residents over 231 square miles, facing elevated demands comparable to larger metropolitan areas despite its compact geography. Under the leadership of Mark Webster since April 2022, Cleveland Police operates with a focus on core policing functions including , investigation, and community protection, guided by the Police and Crime Commissioner's strategic plan emphasising offender accountability, drug and gang disruption, and overall crime reduction. The force has achieved notable reductions in recorded crime exceeding 8% in recent years and received the Equality North East Gold Standard Award in 2018 for diversity efforts, marking it as the sole police force recipient at the time. A defining characteristic has been its scrutiny under national oversight, with His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) placing the force into special measures in 2019—the first in the UK rated inadequate across all performance areas—due to deficiencies in leadership, crime recording, and operational effectiveness. This followed revelations of systemic issues, including misuse of counter-terrorism powers against journalists, prompting intensified reforms in and frontline delivery. By September 2023, sustained improvements in prevention, problem-solving, and efficiency led to its removal from special measures, with HMICFRS noting progress though acknowledging ongoing needs in areas like victim support and .

Jurisdiction and Responsibilities

Geographic Coverage

Cleveland Police provides territorial policing across the Cleveland police area in , encompassing the four unitary authorities of , , , and . This jurisdiction aligns with the former county of , established for administrative purposes, and includes urban centers along the River Tees estuary, coastal towns, and surrounding rural locales. The force area covers approximately 231 square miles (600 km²), making it the second-smallest territorial police jurisdiction in by land area. It serves a population of over 585,000 residents, concentrated in densely populated boroughs such as and , with significant industrial and port-related infrastructure contributing to its geographic and economic profile. Geographically, the area features a mix of , facilities, a station at , and the Port of , alongside residential and commercial districts; boundaries generally follow local authority lines without overlap from adjacent forces like or . This compact yet urban-focused coverage demands policing adapted to high-density environments comparable to larger metropolitan areas.

Core Policing Functions

Cleveland Police delivers operational policing through specialized units focused on immediate response, crime investigation, and . Response teams handle emergency 999 calls and non-emergency 101 inquiries, assessing risks, deploying officers to incidents, and ensuring public safety at scenes such as accidents or disturbances. These functions prioritize rapid intervention to protect life, prevent escalation, and preserve evidence. In crime detection and justice, officers support investigations by interviewing suspects, gathering evidence, and pursuing prosecutions for offences ranging from minor infractions to serious crimes. This includes proactive measures like scene preservation and offender identification, aligned with the broader duty of territorial forces to detect and deter criminal activity while upholding legal standards under the . Neighbourhood policing emphasizes visible patrols by police community support officers (PCSOs) and constables to build local trust, tackle emerging trends, and address through foot patrols and community partnerships. These efforts aim to prevent disorder and enhance public reassurance, supplemented by special constables who assist in crowd control, incident response, and security at events. Additional core responsibilities include traffic management, victim support, and collaboration with partner agencies for vulnerability protection, such as safeguarding children at risk, though inspections have noted areas for improvement in prioritization and recording. Overall, these functions operate under the Chief Constable's direction to maintain peace and efficiency across the force's jurisdiction. Cleveland Police operates as a established and maintained under the Police Act 1996, which mandates each defined police area in , including the Cleveland police area as specified in Schedule 1, to sustain an efficient and effective force. The holds operational direction and control of the force pursuant to Section 10 of the same Act, with core responsibilities encompassing the preservation of peace, prevention of crime, protection of life and property, and detection and prosecution of offences. Individual within the force exercise powers derived from , including the ancient office of , supplemented by statutory provisions such as those in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), which govern arrests, searches, and detentions. These powers enable activities, such as stop and search under Section 1 of PACE, subject to requirements, and extend to firearms licensing and traffic enforcement under ancillary legislation. Oversight of Cleveland Police is primarily provided by the elected (PCC) for , who assumed responsibilities from the former police authority following reforms under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, including setting strategic priorities through the Police and Crime Plan, budgeting, and holding the accountable for performance. The PCC also monitors implementation of recommendations from national bodies and ensures compliance with governance standards, such as financial management codes. At the national level, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) conducts inspections under Section 54 of the Police Act 1996 to assess effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy, with Cleveland Police transitioning from "special measures" to routine monitoring by September 2023 following improvements. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) handles investigations into serious complaints, deaths in custody, and officer conduct matters referred by the force, promoting accountability for misconduct. Internal mechanisms, including the force's Professional Standards Department, manage lower-level complaints under IOPC-approved procedures.

Historical Development

Formation in 1974

Cleveland Constabulary was established on 1 April 1974 as part of the nationwide reorganization of local government and policing in under the Local Government Act 1972, which abolished previous administrative boundaries and created new police areas aligned with the emerging non-metropolitan counties. The force was formed to serve the newly created county of , encompassing the former county boroughs of (including , , and surrounding areas) and , the Stockton Rural District transferred from , and the Langbaurgh Rural District from the . The amalgamation integrated the , which had policed the industrial Teesside urban area, with portions of the York and North East Yorkshire Police (covering rural North Riding territories) and the (for Hartlepool and Stockton areas previously under its jurisdiction). This merger consolidated fragmented policing structures to improve efficiency and coordination across a diverse region of urban centers, ports, and rural districts, with an initial operational area of approximately 583 square kilometers and a population exceeding 550,000. Ralph Davison was appointed as the inaugural , bringing experience from his prior role leading the force since 1956, which formed a core component of the Teesside Constabulary. The new constabulary adopted a unified command structure, inheriting around 1,000 officers from the predecessor forces, and focused initial efforts on integrating operations, standardizing procedures, and addressing local priorities such as industrial unrest and in . Early challenges included harmonizing equipment and training across the amalgamated units, but the formation marked a shift toward a more centralized territorial force suited to the post-industrial landscape of the region.

Major Reorganizations and Mergers

In the mid-2000s, the government under proposed merging Cleveland Police with and to create a larger force covering the North East of England, aiming to achieve and improve efficiency. This plan faced significant opposition from police authorities, including Cleveland's, which argued it would undermine local accountability and operational effectiveness without guaranteed benefits. By 2006, following legal challenges and a shift in government policy, the merger proposals were effectively shelved, with Cleveland Police Authority rejecting any voluntary amalgamation. Rather than full mergers, Cleveland Police pursued collaborative arrangements with neighboring forces to share resources and reduce costs. In 2013, it merged specialist units, such as firearms and roads policing teams, with Durham Constabulary, projecting annual savings of £300,000 through joint operations while maintaining separate command structures. This was expanded in 2015, when Cleveland, Durham, and North Yorkshire Police agreed to integrate back-office functions, procurement, and certain operational services, including a unified dog support unit across the three forces to enhance capabilities and cut duplication. Further integration occurred in 2016 with the establishment of a joint major crime unit between and , handling serious investigations like murders and rapes to pool expertise and investigative resources without dissolving force boundaries. These partial mergers reflected a broader trend in English policing toward regional collaboration amid budget constraints post-2010 measures, though full structural amalgamation remained politically unfeasible due to local resistance and concerns over diluted community focus. No subsequent proposals for complete merger have advanced to implementation as of 2025.

Evolution of Headquarters

The headquarters of Cleveland Police, formed on 1 April 1974 through the merger of Teesside Constabulary and parts of , were initially centralized in at facilities including Dunning Road before relocating to the purpose-built Ladgate Lane site in early 1984. The Ladgate Lane headquarters, developed in the on a 60-acre site, supported force-wide operations but incurred high maintenance expenses, exceeding £1 million annually by the 2010s. By 2013, the facility was deemed unfit for modern policing needs, prompting reviews for replacement as early as 2007–2008. Plans for a new headquarters were formalized in 2014, with construction of the £20 million Cleveland Community Safety Hub at Hemlington Grange beginning in March 2017. This purpose-built facility, incorporating a community hub and advanced operational spaces, officially opened in November 2018 following the decommissioning and sale of Ladgate Lane, which enabled residential redevelopment of the site. The transition to Hemlington reduced operational costs and improved efficiency, with the hub earning regional design awards for its innovative approach to integrating policing and community safety functions. The site continues to serve as the force's central , supporting over 1,600 officers and staff across the .

Period of Special Measures (2016–2019)

In 2016, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) assessed Cleveland Police under the PEEL framework, rating the force good in efficiency for its approach to understanding demand, allocating resources, and planning for future needs. The effectiveness inspection noted good progress since , with an effective overall approach to protecting vulnerable people and responding to serious crimes, though some gaps remained in investigating crimes and using powers and resources. By 2017, subsequent PEEL inspections continued to evaluate the force's legitimacy, , and , but detailed graded outcomes highlighted ongoing challenges in treating fairly and maintaining public trust, with needs improvement in aspects of ethical behavior and complaint handling. Efficiency assessments reiterated strengths in resource matching but flagged risks from financial pressures and workforce planning. The 2018/19 PEEL assessment, published on 27 September 2019, marked a severe deterioration, rating Cleveland Police inadequate across all three pillars: effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy—the first force to receive such uniform low grades. Inspectors found the force ineffective at investigating crime (with low solve rates and poor supervision), protecting vulnerable people (including failures in for domestic and exploitation), and preventing crime; inefficient in demand management and strategic planning; and lacking legitimacy due to inconsistent treatment of the public and ethical standards. Leadership was criticized as "rudderless," with no clear direction, inadequate oversight, and a culture of low expectations contributing to systemic failures that placed the public at risk. These findings triggered special measures on 27 September , requiring the and to develop and implement a recovery plan under intensified HMICFRS monitoring, including regular progress reports and potential intervention if improvements stalled. The regime aimed to address six causes of concern, such as weak and vulnerability safeguards, amid leadership instability—chief constables Iain Spittal (2016–2018) and Mike Veale (2018–) had departed amid prior scrutiny, exacerbating operational disarray. During this period, faced heightened scrutiny for issues like delayed responses to emergencies and under-recording of crimes, underscoring causal links between poor and service delivery shortfalls.

Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

Since its formation as Cleveland Constabulary in 1974, two officers serving with the force have died in the line of duty. PC Charles William Collett, aged 43, drowned on 16 October 1992 while attempting to rescue a boy from the River Tees in . PC Alan Duffy, aged 44, was killed on 20 June 1997 in a road traffic collision while to duty. The force also commemorates 15 officers from antecedent constabularies who lost their lives between 1874 and 1971, primarily due to assaults, traffic accidents, or wartime air raids on special constables. Among these, PC William Henderson of the Police was the sole officer murdered, shot on 14 April 1893 at age 37 while attempting to disarm a mentally ill man of a .

Governance and Leadership

Chief Constables

Cleveland Police has experienced a succession of Chief Constables since its establishment on 1 April 1974, with the role entailing operational command of the force under the oversight of the Police and Crime Commissioner. The early leaders oversaw the force's initial development, while later tenures have been marked by higher turnover, including several short-term and acting appointments amid performance challenges and leadership controversies. The following table lists all Chief Constables with their tenures:
NameTenureNotes
Ralph Davison1974–1976First Chief Constable, previously led Middlesbrough Borough Police.
Christopher Payne1976–1990Served 14 years; involved in national policing events including the Spaghetti House siege.
Keith Hellawell1990–1993Later became Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police; noted for handling child abuse inquiries.
Barry Shaw1993–2003Oversaw force during period of internal controversies, including disputes with senior officers; retired amid calls for resignation.
Sean Price2003–2012Longest recent tenure; dismissed for gross misconduct related to recruitment irregularities.
Jacqui Cheer2012–2016Focused on addressing prior operational shortcomings; retired.
Iain Spittal2015–2017Acting initially; improved force rating from "requiring improvement" to "good" per inspections; apologized for historical surveillance issues.
Simon Nickless2018 (acting)Brief interim role before moving to other positions.
Mike Veale2018–2019Resigned amid investigations; later found guilty of gross misconduct.
Lee Freeman2019 (interim)Temporary appointment from Humberside Police.
Richard Lewis2019–2021Oversaw period when force rated "inadequate"; departed for family reasons.
Helen McMillan2021–2022 (acting)Interim focus on community engagement; retired.
Mark Webster2022–2025Appointed to aid recovery from special measures; retired after three years.
Victoria Fuller2025–presentConfirmed 20 June 2025; previously Deputy Chief Constable, emphasizing force stabilization.
This high turnover since the mid-2010s reflects ongoing scrutiny from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, with nine leaders in approximately 20 years contributing to perceptions of instability.

Police and Crime Commissioners

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Cleveland is an independently elected official established under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, tasked with setting the strategic priorities for Cleveland Police, determining the annual policing budget (including the precept), appointing and holding the accountable, and commissioning services to prevent and reduce in the force area covering , , , and . The PCC's office also manages victim support and community safety initiatives, with elections held every four years using a supplementary vote system. Barry Coppinger (Labour) was the inaugural PCC, elected on 15 November 2012 with 11,526 first-preference votes (approximately 28% of the share) in a low-turnout contest of 14.6% across . He was re-elected on 5 May 2016, securing 25,660 votes (50.2%) against the incumbent threshold after the first round. Coppinger focused on increasing police visibility and but faced criticism over force performance metrics and resigned on 7 September 2020 amid an ongoing regulatory investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, though no charges resulted. An acting PCC, Lisa Oldroyd, interim-managed the office until the next election. Steve Turner (Conservative), a former Redcar and Cleveland councillor, won the subsequent election on 6 May 2021 with 74,023 votes (54.7%), more than double Labour's Matthew Storey's tally, on a platform of "more police, safer streets." His tenure emphasized operational improvements post-special measures but included admissions in September 2021 of accepting hospitality worth over £1,000 from the , breaching standards code, leading to an ethics probe. Turner also endured unsubstantiated anonymous allegations of misconduct in 2022, which he publicly rebutted as baseless. Matt (Labour and Co-operative Party) was elected on 2 May 2024, defeating Conservative Harry Harmer with 45,148 votes (41.1%) in the first round. A long-time professional from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Durham, Storey issued the Cleveland Police and Crime Plan 2024–2029 in 2024, prioritizing victim support, neighbourhood policing, serious violence reduction, and road safety across six strategic themes for "safe, strong, and confident communities." In September 2025, he advocated for equitable national funding amid rising demands, securing government approval for up to £189.3 million in 2025/26—a £11.8 million increase from the prior year—primarily funded by central grants and local precepts.

Accountability Mechanisms

The Department of Standards and Ethics (DSE) within Cleveland Police serves as the primary internal mechanism for maintaining professional standards, investigating allegations of , and handling public complaints against officers. The DSE records and screens complaints received through channels such as the non-emergency line 101, online forms, or in-person reports, categorizing them for local resolution (minor issues addressed informally) or full investigation (serious ). Investigations may involve interviews, gathering, and outcomes ranging from no case to dismissal, with officers subject to misconduct hearings under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020. Public complaints not resolved locally can be appealed to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which provides independent oversight for serious cases involving death, serious injury, or potential criminality. The IOPC directs or supervises investigations, publishes anonymized learning reports from Cleveland Police cases, and monitors complaint handling performance through quarterly data bulletins comparing resolution times and outcomes against national averages. For instance, in October 2023, the IOPC collaborated with Cleveland Police on a gross misconduct case resulting in an officer's dismissal despite resignation. His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) conducts periodic PEEL inspections assessing effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy, including and . Following a 2019 PEEL inspection rating the force inadequate across all areas—citing poor leadership, crime recording failures, and vulnerability protections— was placed in special measures in April 2019, entering the 'engage' monitoring phase requiring intensified improvement plans. By September 2023, after multiple inspections demonstrating progress in areas like and counter-corruption (though noting ongoing weaknesses in proactive intelligence), HMICFRS removed the force from enhanced monitoring. A June 2023 HMICFRS report on found 's DSE provided adequate recruit guidance but required better risk assessments for vulnerable roles.

Organizational Structure

Neighbourhood Policing Model

The Neighbourhood Policing Model employed by Cleveland Police assigns dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) to specific wards or localities across the force area, comprising , , , and , with the aim of building community trust, gathering local intelligence, and tackling persistent issues such as through visible patrols and problem-solving approaches. Each NPT typically includes a , constables, and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), who collaborate with residents, local authorities, and partners to co-produce policing priorities via consultations, beat meetings, and online feedback mechanisms. A restructured model implemented in March 2020 expanded NPT capacity with 102 dedicated police constable posts and 106 PCSOs, supported by an ongoing using on , , and demand to refine and enhance proactive interventions. The force's Neighbourhood Policing Abstraction Policy governs the temporary redeployment of NPT personnel to response duties, prioritizing minimal disruption to maintain visibility and , with approvals required at level or above and compensatory mandated post-abstraction. In practice, however, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) noted in 2021 that frequent abstractions to 999 calls undermined consistency, with variable problem-solving plans, limited evaluation of outcomes, and uneven training application hindering full effectiveness in and anti-social behaviour reduction. To bolster the model, the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, introduced in April 2025 under the national Safer Streets initiative, allocated £2.4 million in government funding to recruit 20 additional officers, 31 PCSOs, and 12 special constables, ensuring at least one named officer per community for regular patrols, priority-setting based on public input, and targeted enforcement against and retail crime. This enhancement aligns with five core pillars: increased foot patrols, community-led priorities, performance accountability, crackdowns, and safer town centres, with progress tracked via the force website and held accountable by the Police and Crime Commissioner. NPTs also integrate digital tools, such as postcode-based team locators and alert systems for local updates, to facilitate resident engagement.

Response and CID Teams

Response teams in Cleveland Police consist of uniformed officers who provide immediate attendance to emergency (999) and priority non-emergency (101) calls across the force area, including , , , and . These officers, often working in pairs from district-based stations, handle a wide range of incidents such as missing persons, disturbances, and initial crime scenes, with Stockton response officers alone managing over 400 incidents in a single week in May 2023, including locating all 66 reported missing individuals. Shift patterns for response teams transitioned from a five-team to a four-team model to optimize coverage and resilience amid operational demands. Officers receive daily briefings on priorities before deploying to dynamic incidents, exemplified by a team responding to multiple events in one afternoon in October 2025. The (CID) comprises detective-led teams focused on in-depth inquiries into reported crimes, operating from local districts such as , , , and Stockton. These units investigate volume crimes including burglaries, assaults, drug offenses, and ram raids, with examples including CID charging individuals for multiple burglaries in December 2024 and CID probing linked incidents in April 2025. Force-wide, CID employs 92 officers, 14 detective sergeants, and 6 inspectors, facilitating transitions from uniformed roles via specialized training and shift patterns. CID teams collaborate with response officers for follow-up, emphasizing prosecution of high-harm offenders as stated by 's department lead in October 2025.

Support and Administrative Functions

Corporate Services at Cleveland Police encompasses key administrative functions, including management, and selection processes, , and oversight. This department ensures compliance with internal policies and supports the of police officers and staff through structured procedures that apply to all personnel. It also handles planning and governance roles, such as administrative apprenticeships focused on organizational efficiency. Financial and business improvement operations fall under the Director of Finance and Business Improvement, who leads budgeting, , , and initiatives to enhance operational efficiency across the force. These efforts integrate with broader corporate costs, which in recent budgets have included substantial allocations for staff pay and non-pay expenses to sustain administrative . Support functions collectively enable frontline policing by maintaining logistical backbone, such as facilities and IT systems, while adhering to statutory responsibilities under oversight from the . This structure prioritizes cost-effective service delivery, with expenditures forming a notable portion of the force's operational budget to underpin and response capabilities.

Specialist Operations

Matrix and Armed Response Teams

The Matrix team within Cleveland Police was established on 22 January 2024 as a specialist unit designed to address serious and organised crime through integrated operations, combining resources from multiple tactical groups including the Tactical Disruption Team (formerly the Operational Support Unit), firearms officers, the Dog Support , and roads policing officers. This structure enables proactive disruption of criminal networks, with officers trained in advanced tactics such as deployment, use for vehicle stops, and high-risk arrests. Vehicles assigned to the team feature a distinctive bright livery to enhance and deterrence, marking a rebranding effort that has been credited with operational efficiencies. In its initial month, the team reported significant successes, including multiple arrests and seizures related to organised crime activities on . Armed response capabilities form a core component of the Matrix team, with authorised firearms officers (AFOs) authorised to carry and deploy weapons in response to threats involving firearms or high-risk scenarios. These officers handle a broad spectrum of incidents, from routine armed patrols to emergency responses requiring specialist intervention, often integrating with other Matrix elements like canine units for enhanced tactical effectiveness. Training emphasises de-escalation where possible alongside readiness for lethal force authorisation under national guidelines, with the team's formation aimed at faster threat neutralisation compared to prior siloed units. Superintendent Paul Richardson oversees Matrix operations, reporting directly on efforts to eradicate emerging criminal threats through coordinated, .

Specialist Operations Unit

The Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit (CDSOU) is a collaborative entity formed in April 2011 through the merger of specialist units from Police and , aimed at enhancing efficiency in high-risk policing activities by pooling resources such as roads policing officers and tactical specialists. This arrangement allows for shared operational capacity across both force areas, with CDSOU handling pursuits, traffic enforcement, and related interventions that exceed standard neighbourhood or response team capabilities. Core responsibilities include conducting high-speed vehicle pursuits, vehicle interdiction, and speed enforcement operations, such as patrols targeting excessive speeding, which in 2023 resulted in multiple detections and fixed penalty notices in Stockton and . The unit also addresses nuisance and illegal vehicle use, collaborating with neighbourhood teams to seize bikes and motorcycles involved in , as seen in operations under Operation Endurance. Additionally, CDSOU participates in national road safety initiatives, including Operation Close Pass to safeguard cyclists and pedestrians from close passes by motorists. Officers within the unit receive specialist training, including qualification as Family Liaison Officers to support families affected by road traffic collisions. Operational bases are located at Wynyard Park in Cleveland's area and Spennymoor in Durham's, with joint-marked police vehicles facilitating seamless cross-border responses. CDSOU has supported ancillary activities, such as joint vehicle checks with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), leading to discoveries like over £250,000 in drugs in in June 2023. The unit's pursuits and interventions have been documented in the Channel 5 series , showcasing real-time tactical decisions in dynamic road scenarios. Although Cleveland Police issued a notice of intent to withdraw from CDSOU in May 2021 amid cost and efficiency reviews, the partnership remained active into 2024, with ongoing collaborations noted in financial and audit reports for shared specialist functions like forensic collision investigation. This structure supports Cleveland's broader specialist operations by providing dedicated expertise in mobility-related threats, complementing matrix teams focused on firearms and disruption.

Canine and Air Support Services

The Cleveland Police Dog Support Unit (DSU) deploys specially trained for search, tracking, victim location, and apprehension operations, supporting both general policing and specialist tactical responses. Dogs undergo rigorous four-week initial training courses encompassing theoretical instruction and practical exercises in areas such as criminal tracking and restraint techniques. Handlers receive annual in canine first aid to address potential injuries during deployments. In July 2025, the DSU received donated defibrillators to equip response vehicles, enabling immediate medical intervention for officers, handlers, or bystanders in emergencies. Specialist canine capabilities integrate with the force's Matrix Team for high-risk operations, including firearms incidents and public order events. In May 2024, three newly licensed dogs—Trigger, Rheagar, and Neo—along with their handlers, were integrated into the Matrix Team to bolster disciplines such as armed search and tactical support. The DSU operates under a dedicated and designated liaison officers who manage kenneling, deployment, and welfare, as outlined in force policies for handling dangerous dogs and related costs. Since December 2019, Cleveland Police has maintained an independent dog unit, transitioning from prior collaborative arrangements with Durham and forces to enhance localized response efficiency. Air support for Cleveland Police is provided through the National Police Air Service (NPAS), a centralized network delivering aerial operations across England and Wales since October 2012, which superseded the force's in-house Cleveland Air Operations Unit. NPAS assets, including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, support tasks such as suspect pursuits, missing person searches, and event monitoring, with deployments coordinated via a 24/7 operations center. Response times from the nearest NPAS base, such as Newcastle, average 20-22 minutes to Cleveland's operational area. Cleveland Police facilitates this service through officer secondments to NPAS, typically for five-year terms with possible renewals, ensuring force-specific input into aerial tactics and equipment use. The force maintains no dedicated aviation assets, relying fully on NPAS for borderless, rapid-response air coverage.

Performance and Efficiency

PEEL Inspection Assessments

In the PEEL (police effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy) assessment for 2023–2025, published by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) on 10 2025, Cleveland Police was judged "good" in four areas, "adequate" in two areas, and "requires improvement" in two areas across eight graded aspects of policing performance. The ungraded ninth area focused on the force's contribution to the strategic policing requirement. HMICFRS highlighted progress in building a strong and preventing , with the report noting that the force had made advancements in addressing prior weaknesses, though further improvements were needed in areas such as responding to the public and protecting vulnerable people. This marked a notable enhancement from the preceding 2021–2022 PEEL inspection, published on 17 March 2023, where Cleveland Police received "good" ratings in only one area—crime data integrity—and "adequate" in four others, with multiple areas rated "requires improvement" or lower. A cause of concern raised in September 2023 regarding the force's incomplete resolution of deficiencies in preventing and had been partially mitigated by the 2023–2025 review, reflecting targeted operational changes. Overall, HMICFRS inspectors found the force had improved in every inspected domain since the prior cycle, attributing gains to focus on identification and resource allocation, despite ongoing demands from high volumes in the region. In the 12 months ending June 2024, Cleveland Police recorded a total of 74,928 crimes, representing an 11% reduction (8,920 fewer offences) compared to the previous year. This equates to a crime rate of 129.3 offences per 1,000 population, higher than the most similar forces average of 109.8 but indicative of downward pressure on overall volume. Neighbourhood crimes fell by 10.2% (1,022 fewer incidents), from 9,902 to 8,886, with targeted interventions in Middlesbrough yielding an 18% drop in Safer Streets programme areas.
Crime TypeReduction (%)Fewer IncidentsPrevious Year Total
Theft from the Person44231530
Residential Burglary18.67644,106
Robbery14130951
Domestic Abuse9.21,34214,553
Serious Violence8.51691,988
These figures reflect proactive measures, including hotspot patrols that contributed to a 14% year-on-year decrease in incidents. Residential burglaries specifically declined 16% in September 2024 compared to September 2023 (42 fewer offences), attributed to preventative operations. Youth-related serious violence dropped 17.2% (112 fewer offences), with knife-enabled incidents among under-25s falling 24.4% (83 fewer) and hospital admissions for youth violence decreasing 40% (10 fewer). Overall knife crime among young people across the area reduced by 12% in 2024. Detection and outcomes improved, with an 8.4% charge rate for all crimes (above the national 6.4%) and higher rates for (25.3% vs. national 16.4%) and weapons possession (36.7% vs. national 28.3%). However, vehicle crime rose 3% (109 more incidents), highlighting uneven trends amid broader reductions. The HMICFRS PEEL assessment for 2023-2025 noted progress in reducing but emphasized the need for sustained effectiveness in prevention strategies.

Workforce Composition and Budget Management

As of April 6, 2024, Cleveland Police maintained a sworn officer headcount of 1,528, alongside 94 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), reflecting growth from 1,105 officers and 127 PCSOs in April 2017 amid the national police uplift programme. The force targets approximately 1,500 (FTE) officers, the highest since 2011/12, with plans for an additional 48 recruits in the 2024/25 financial year to support operational demands. Police staff numbers, which include administrative, support, and specialist roles, complement this structure, though exact FTE figures fluctuate with recruitment and retention; pay allocations indicate a substantial non-officer workforce comprising roughly 30-40% of total personnel costs. Workforce diversity data for 2023/24 shows female employees at 45% overall, increasing by 1 percentage point into , while male representation declined correspondingly; this encompasses officers, staff, and PCSOs but lacks granular officer-specific breakdowns in public reports. Ethnicity composition aligns with national trends, where over 90% of officers are , though Cleveland's force serves a more diverse population, prompting targeted recruitment to enhance representation without compromising merit-based selection. Age and other demographics remain underreported in force-specific statistics, but national data indicates a officer age around 40, with efforts to balance experience and youth through ongoing training. For 2024/25, Police's total revenue stands at £196.65 million, funded primarily by £128.1 million in grants (including £6.78 million uplift tied to targets), £51.3 million from precept (following a £13 Band D increase), £19.5 million in specific grants, and £5.5 million from partnerships and reserves. Workforce-related expenditure dominates at £143 million, covering pay (£96.8 million), staff pay (£39.2 million), and PCSO pay (£4 million), representing over 70% of the and necessitating efficiencies like controls and civilianization of non-core roles to sustain uplift gains. emphasizes long-term through 2027/28, with precept reliance rising due to static core grants, prompting calls for fairer allocations given 's high deprivation and demands; reserves are projected to stabilize near £6 million to buffer inflationary pressures on pay and pensions. For 2025/26, rises to £202.77 million total, with government contributions at £142.8 million, supporting continued expansion amid fiscal constraints.

Controversies and Misconduct

Notable Cases of Officer Offences

In 2013, former Cleveland Police officer Wayne Scott was convicted of multiple rapes and sexual offences committed against women while he was serving as an officer, receiving a 19-year prison sentence after confessing to abusing his position of authority. The case highlighted failures in internal and oversight, as Scott had prior complaints against him that were not adequately addressed. In August 2024, former PC Neal Murray pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office for creating and signing a statement in a 2019 assault case, receiving a and 150 hours of in October 2024. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation determined the fabrication undermined public trust in policing. Multiple cases of by officers have resulted in dismissals and barring from future police service. In July 2025, PC Ian Coverdale was sacked without notice after a misconduct hearing found he bit a woman's during an off-duty incident, breaching standards of professional behaviour. Similarly, in November 2022, a former control room officer was barred for life following convictions for groping female colleagues, admitting two counts of at Teesside . In August 2025, former officer Nathan Henderson pleaded guilty to 11 counts of sexual activity with a while serving, facing sentencing for exploiting his position. In November 2024, PC Robert Coffey was dismissed after an IOPC probe found he made a false and misleading incident report in a 2021 domestic case, failing to record details that could have prevented a subsequent ; he was charged with corrupt or improper exercise of police powers. Earlier, in October 2023, former Michael Wilson faced proven gross allegations, warranting dismissal, related to unprofessional conduct during his tenure. These incidents reflect a pattern of individual accountability through gross hearings, though a 2014 £4.6 million probe (Operation Sacristy) into senior officers ended without charges.

Inquiries into Operational Failures

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) conducted a review in 2013 into Cleveland Police's handling of the 2004 kidnapping of businessman Tony Pattison by Bronson Tyers, identifying a series of investigative shortcomings that undermined the original , which was quashed on appeal. Specific failures included a five-year delay in interviewing the owner of a vehicle linked to the and related incidents, alongside broader lapses in applying basic investigative principles, such as inadequate pursuit of witness leads and evidence collection. These errors contributed to Tyers's initial conviction being overturned, with three co-defendants ultimately convicted in a retrial, and resulted in the force paying over £500,000 in damages to a lawyer falsely implicated and arrested in 2009. Cleveland Police acknowledged the deficiencies, with then-Chief Constable Jacqui Cheer stating that lessons had been learned and procedural enhancements implemented, though the full IPCC report remained unpublished pending a related probe. Operation , a 41-month internal investigation launched in 2009, exposed operational and ethical lapses at senior levels, including misuse of corporate credit cards, improper expense claims, and undue acceptance of hospitality, which reflected poorly on resource management and oversight. The probe, costing £4.6 million (including £3.9 million for the investigation itself), culminated in no criminal prosecutions due to insufficient evidence for convictions but prompted gross misconduct findings against and Derek Bonnard, leading to their dismissals in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Additional fallout included the resignation and imprisonment of police authority chairman Dave McLuckie for , highlighting causal links between lax internal controls and broader leadership accountability failures. In response, the force introduced reforms such as reduced credit card usage, revised policies on hospitality, and an integrity board, with funding covering costs. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) oversaw Operation Forbes, an independent probe into allegations of and unfair treatment by Cleveland Police toward certain officers, particularly in the Specialist Operations Unit, but the 2019 report focused more on interpersonal dynamics than systemic operational breakdowns, finding no widespread investigative or procedural failures in case handling. Earlier IPCC-linked reviews, such as those into inducement practices where officers allegedly pressured suspects to confess, pointed to isolated procedural risks but lacked force-wide condemnation of operational standards. These inquiries collectively underscored recurring themes of delayed action, inadequate supervision, and resource misallocation, though post-inquiry data from HMICFRS inspections indicated partial remediation efforts without fully eradicating vulnerabilities in frontline operations.

Patterns in Complaints and Use of Force

In the financial year 2023/24, Cleveland Police recorded 1,993 public complaint cases, equating to 812 complaints per 1,000 employees, the highest rate among all forces in compared to a national average of 338. These complaints generated 3,065 allegations, categorized primarily as delivery of duties and service (1,457 allegations), police powers, policies, and procedures (718), and individual behaviours (483). Of these, only 59 allegations specifically concerned , representing a small fraction amid broader concerns over service delivery and procedural fairness. Informal resolutions were finalized for 1,504 cases in an average of 14 days, while formal investigations concluded 348 cases in an average of 97 days, indicating relatively swift handling despite the volume. Patterns in complaints reflect Cleveland's operational challenges in high-deprivation areas, with elevated volumes linked to frequent public interactions rather than systemic , as evidenced by the low proportion of force-related claims. His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) noted in its 2023–25 PEEL assessment that while complaints handling lacks a dedicated rating, related victim feedback highlights delays in updates and incomplete needs assessments, contributing to disengagement in 52 of 69 reviewed cases. No overarching patterns of disproportionality in complaint outcomes were identified, though the force's high recording rate underscores proactive logging under IOPC guidelines. Cleveland Police reported 17,663 incidents in the year ending March 2023, exceeding its 11,679 arrests and indicating force deployment in over 48 incidents per day, often in non-arrest contexts such as public order or resistance management. HMICFRS rated the force's as good, citing improved recording accuracy, monthly reviews of 35 incidents for and proportionality, and external panel scrutiny of five cases bimonthly. Body-worn video captured 90.2% of stop-and-search encounters, aiding post-incident analysis, though national standardization of reporting forms remains inconsistent. Quarterly data from May 2024 illustrates typical patterns: 1,663 forms submitted with 93% compliance, including 83 in-custody applications primarily triggered by resistance, intoxication from drugs or alcohol, and physical disparities in size or build. Common tactics encompassed restraint, handcuffing, irritant spray, and Tasers, with no elevated patterns of lethal force noted. HMICFRS observed lower ethnic disproportionality in related stop-and-search activities, where individuals were 1.3 times more likely to be searched than counterparts (versus 3.6 nationally), yielding a 18.9% find rate below the 25.1% average. This suggests force usage aligns with operational necessities in a force area prone to violence and disorder, rather than , though sustained is recommended to monitor risks.

Reforms and Effectiveness

Responses to Inspections and Criticisms

Following the 2019 PEEL inspection, in which Cleveland Police was rated inadequate in protecting vulnerable people and responding to the public, the force implemented targeted enhancements to processes and frontline response capabilities, leading to upgrades in subsequent evaluations. By 2023, HMICFRS noted specific progress in identifying and safeguarding vulnerable individuals through improved and multi-agency collaboration. In response to the 2022 HMICFRS thematic inspection on serious and organised crime, Cleveland Police acknowledged identified shortcomings in gathering and disruption tactics, committing to bolster teams and enhance partnerships with regional forces to address threats like drug trafficking and exploitation networks. The force's action plan included reallocating resources to prioritize high-harm offenders, resulting in measurable increases in arrests and asset seizures by mid-2023, as verified in follow-up monitoring. The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has systematically published formal responses to HMICFRS reports, outlining accountability measures such as internal audits and performance dashboards to track remediation efforts. For instance, after criticisms of inefficient call-handling in earlier inspections, the PCC endorsed investments in digital dispatch systems, reducing average response times to priority incidents by 15% between 2021 and 2024. Regarding group-based child sexual exploitation, a 2025 HMICFRS progress report highlighted Police's adoption of enhanced grooming risk models and dedicated investigation units following prior operational failures exposed in local inquiries, though urged sustained focus to prevent recurrence. These reforms involved mandatory for over 1,200 officers on exploitation indicators and integration with , yielding a 20% rise in recorded referrals from 2022 to 2024. The 2023–2025 PEEL assessment credited senior leadership with establishing a "clear strategic direction," including workforce programs to mitigate high absence rates flagged in prior critiques, achieving 'good' ratings in prevention, efficiency, and legitimacy. However, persistent 'requires improvement' gradings for crime investigation and vulnerable person protection prompted ongoing commitments to forensic capability upgrades and case file audits, with the force projecting full compliance targets by 2026.

Training Initiatives and Cultural Shifts

In response to findings from the 2021–2022 PEEL inspection, Cleveland Police established a prevention command to enhance , contributing to a broader cultural emphasis on problem-solving and community-focused operations. This shift includes training all officers in the SARA (Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment) model, initially rolled out in neighbourhood policing teams to foster a data-driven, preventive mindset across . The force has adopted a geographic policing model, dividing operations into four superintendent-led areas to prioritize local priorities and build stronger community ties, marking a departure from previous centralized approaches criticized for inefficiencies. Leadership training supports this evolution, with 102 sergeants completing a first-line leaders course by early 2025 and 156 more enrolled, aimed at embedding and support within supervisory ranks. Workforce initiatives, including occupational health follow-ups after the summer 2024 public disorders, reflect a cultural move toward recognizing officer resilience as integral to sustained performance. Training programs emphasize legal and ethical standards, including annual stop and search modules aligned with guidance, requiring an 80% pass rate and supplemented by bi-monthly refreshed briefings. Mandatory sessions on communication skills and unconscious bias are provided to all officers and staff, with sergeants receiving additional to address legitimacy concerns from prior inspections. Local development units offer mentorship for probationary officers, aiding retention amid net gains in experienced personnel. These efforts have yielded improved PEEL ratings in treating the public fairly and protecting the workforce, as noted in the 2023–2025 assessment.

Measurable Achievements in Crime Control

In the year ending December 2024, Cleveland Police recorded an overall crime rate of 73,339 offences, excluding , marking a decrease from 79,356 offences in the year ending December 2023, as reported by the Office for National Statistics. This represents an approximate 7.6% reduction, which the Police and Crime Commissioner attributed to proactive policing efforts amid broader national trends. Police-recorded crime data for the 12 months covered in the 2023-24 annual report showed a decline of over 8%, equivalent to 7,500 fewer offences compared to the prior period. A separate analysis of recorded crimes up to September 2024 indicated a 9.3% drop to 74,366 total offences, including 919 fewer residential burglaries, a category often targeted through neighbourhood policing initiatives. Targeted investments supported these outcomes, with £1.4 million allocated to anti-violence projects and interventions yielding significant re-offending reductions among successful participants, though force-wide re-offending metrics remained stable relative to national averages. Additionally, emergency demand eased, with a 3.5% reduction in 999 calls (4,249 fewer) during the 2024-25 reporting period, potentially reflecting preventive measures' impact on incident volumes. These figures, while positive, align with national declines and are subject to variations in recording practices, as noted in official summaries.

References

  1. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/police-forces/cleveland/more-about-this-area/
  2. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-27-Police-and-Crime-Plan.pdf
  3. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/police-forces/cleveland-police/areas/cleveland-police/about-us/about-us/chief-officers/chief-constable-mark-webster/
  4. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OPCC-Annual-Report-2023-24.pdf
  5. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PCC-Annual-Report-2018-19-spreads.pdf
  6. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwynngy3d0go
  7. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-66865059
  8. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-49830445
  9. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2023/september/cleveland-police-is-no-longer-in-special-measures/
  10. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publications/peel-assessment-2023-25-cleveland/
  11. https://www.local.gov.uk/case-studies/cleveland-victim-care-pathway
  12. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/police-forces/cleveland-police/areas/cleveland-police/careers/careers/control-room/working-in-fcr/
  13. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/police-forces/cleveland-police/areas/cleveland-police/careers/careers/control-room/
  14. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/cleveland/careers/vacancies/psi-level-2-job-description.doc
  15. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-powers-and-procedures-in-england-and-wales-201112-user-guide/user-guide-to-police-powers-and-procedures
  16. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/police-forces/cleveland-police/areas/cleveland-police/careers/careers/pcsos/about-pcsos/
  17. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/police-forces/cleveland-police/areas/cleveland-police/careers/careers/special-constabulary/about-the-job/
  18. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/news/news-feed/cleveland-police-needs-to-improve-child-protection/
  19. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/contentassets/bbae613409624e389fbb4afeb1cf8754/why-join-our-force-july-2022.pdf
  20. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/16/section/2
  21. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/
  22. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/commissioner/cleveland-police-and-crime-plan/
  23. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/commissioner/transparency/audits/
  24. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/police-forces/cleveland/
  25. https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/police-force/cleveland-police
  26. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1972/70/contents
  27. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2024/april/celebrations-begin-with-winner-of-our-birthday-card-competition/
  28. https://policinginsight.com/feature/cleveland-police-case-study-nice-investigate-eliminates-resource-drain-for-cleveland-police/
  29. https://nyenquirer.uk/cleveland-police-nye-vindicated/
  30. https://nyenquirer.uk/cleveland-police-a-force-in-trouble/
  31. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/dec/22/ukcrime.immigrationpolicy
  32. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/news-in-brief-5989ks7mv27
  33. https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/cleveland-durham-units-merger-save-3685759
  34. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-31919702
  35. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-34657170
  36. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-35869242
  37. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/working-for-you/decisions/decision-notices/sale-of-ladgate-lane-2/
  38. https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15169426.ground-break-starts-work-estimated-20m-cleveland-police-hq/
  39. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-21703365
  40. https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/new-cleveland-police-headquarters-hemlington-16183975
  41. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-28580096
  42. https://assets-hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/uploads/peel-efficiency-2016-press-release-cleveland.pdf
  43. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/peel-assessments/peel-2016/cleveland/effectiveness/
  44. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publications/peel-police-effectiveness-2017-cleveland/
  45. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publications/peel-police-efficiency-2017-cleveland/
  46. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publications/peel-assessment-2018-19-cleveland/
  47. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/sep/27/cleveland-police-branded-failing-in-all-areas-by-inspectors
  48. https://policerollofhonour.org.uk/forces/england/cleveland/cleveland_roll.htm
  49. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-43976269
  50. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2019/05/22/christopher-payne-police-chief-played-key-roles-spaghetti-house/
  51. https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/25103190.police-officers-charge-cleveland-police/
  52. https://www.flickr.com/groups/1040387%40N21/discuss/72157620608046858/
  53. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2120044.stm
  54. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2331459.stm
  55. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/oct/17/uknews
  56. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-19840764
  57. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg5z7zqpv0zo
  58. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/news/victoria-fuller-confirmed-as-chief-constable-of-cleveland-police/
  59. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pcc-election-results
  60. https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2016-35998405
  61. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/news/resignation-of-the-police-and-crime-commissioner-for-cleveland/
  62. https://www.stockton.gov.uk/media/2463/Police-and-crime-panel-annual-report/pdf/Cleveland_Police_and_Crime_Panel_Annual_Report_20202021_accessible2.pdf
  63. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-57025566
  64. https://www.stockton.gov.uk/article/2572/Cleveland-Police-and-Crime-Commissioner-Election-Results-2021
  65. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-58637507
  66. https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=60c7f3c2-c380-49d6-b443-d5c70069829a
  67. https://www.stockton.gov.uk/article/14463/Cleveland-Police-and-Crime-Commissioner-election-results-2024
  68. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyd3wvz72go
  69. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/cleveland/publication-scheme/our-policies-and-procedures/196-reporting-professional-standards-concerns-and-protected-disclosure-policy-v2.2-with-appendix_redacted.pdf
  70. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/fo/feedback/complaints/complaints/
  71. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publication-html/effectiveness-of-vetting-and-counter-corruption-arrangements-in-cleveland-police/
  72. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2023/october/statement-after-gross-misconduct-hearing/
  73. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/area/your-area/cleveland/middlesbrough-north/central/
  74. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publication-html/cleveland-police-cause-of-concern-revisit-preventing-crime-and-tackling-anti-social-behaviour/
  75. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/news-archive/force-launches-consultation-on-neighbourhood-policing/
  76. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/area/your-area/cleveland/middlesbrough-south/ladgate/about-us/our-priorities
  77. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/cleveland/publication-scheme/our-policies-and-procedures/405-neighbourhood-policing-abstraction-policy-v1.0_redacted.pdf
  78. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/working-for-you/deliver-more-visible-and-effective-policing/neighbourhood-policing-guarantee/
  79. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2025/june/neighbourhood-policing-guarantee-is-welcome-enhancement-to-crucial-area-of-policing/
  80. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2025/july/policing-in-the-heart-of-your-neighbourhood/
  81. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2023/may/did-you-know-that-response-officers-in-stockton-dealt-with-over-400-incidents-in-the-last-week/
  82. https://processevolution.co.uk/navigating-the-perfect-storm-cleveland-polices-response-policing-journey/
  83. https://www.facebook.com/TeessideConnected/posts/cleveland-police-hartlepool-response-teams-had-an-extremely-busy-afternoon-and-e/1377269804405463/
  84. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2024/december/redcar-cid-charge-man-with-string-of-burglaries/
  85. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2025/april/middlesbrough-cid-investigating-further-linked-ram-raid-incidents/
  86. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/foi-ai/cleveland-police/disclosure/2025/january/foi-3325-child-sexual-exploitation/
  87. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2025/october/hartlepool-police-welcomes-new-district-commander/
  88. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/cleveland/publication-scheme/our-policies-and-procedures/231-recruitment-and-selection-policy-v2.0_redacted.pdf
  89. https://www.facebook.com/clevelandpolice/photos/cleveland-police-are-seeking-an-apprentice-to-work-within-their-corporate-servic/1004180061757337/
  90. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/foi-ai/cleveland-police/publication-scheme/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/
  91. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/commissioner/finances/annual-police-budget/
  92. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2024/january/cleveland-police-launches-new-matrix-team/
  93. https://www.facebook.com/clevelandpolice/posts/matrix-officers-are-escorting-an-abnormal-load-when-it-leaves-teesport-in-middle/1153495456825796/
  94. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKrpNopozc0/
  95. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3g009k47wdo
  96. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2024/february/new-team-sees-significant-success-in-first-month/
  97. https://www.facebook.com/clevelandpolice/posts/armed-response-officers-at-cleveland-police-deal-with-a-wide-range-of-incidents-/859162156259129/
  98. https://www.itv.com/watch/news/matrix-unit-the-highly-specialised-armed-officers-tackling-teesside-organised-crime/w3t42jw
  99. https://www.facebook.com/clevelandpolice/videos/artemis/1824502898421905/
  100. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/78217/html/
  101. https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/cleveland-police-motorbikes-leave-teesside-8374227
  102. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2023/march/two-charged-following-commercial-burglary-in-east-cleveland/
  103. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2023/april/launch-of-operation-artemis/
  104. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2023/june/police-in-hartlepool-recovered-drugs-worth-over-quarter-of-a-million-pounds-yesterday-during-the-third-operation-artemis/
  105. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2023/april/activity-to-tackle-nuisance-bikes/
  106. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/police-forces/cleveland-police/areas/cleveland-police/campaigns/campaigns/2021/operation-close-pass/
  107. https://www.facebook.com/ClevelandRPU/
  108. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/cleveland/2025/campaigns/2023-24-statement-of-accounts--cleveland-police-final---signed-id-1219719.pdf
  109. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGutXUc6lRU
  110. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/cleveland/key-strategies-and-corporate-documents/statements-of-accounts/202223/cleveland-police--ags-2021-22.pdf
  111. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/cleveland/2024/about-us/important-documents/cleveland-police-annual-audit-report-23-24-final-february-2025-id-1219961.pdf
  112. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2025/july/defibrillators-donated-to-dog-support-unit-to-help-save-lives/
  113. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/foi-ai/cleveland-police/disclosure/2024/august/foi-83724-police-dog-data/
  114. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2024/october/our-dog-unit-training-department-is-expanding/
  115. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2024/may/three-new-licensed-dogs-and-handlers-join-matrix-team/
  116. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2019/december/cleveland-durham-and-north-yorkshire-police-to-have-individual-police-dog-units/
  117. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/cleveland/publication-scheme/our-policies-and-procedures/248-dangerous-dogs-and-associated-costs-v1.4-with-appendices_redacted.pdf
  118. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/foi-ai/cleveland-police/disclosure/2025/february/foi-24525-police-helicopter-dispatched/
  119. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FOI-99-National-Police-Air-Service.pdf
  120. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/cleveland/publication-scheme/our-policies-and-procedures/54-external-secondments-policy-v1.11_redacted.pdf
  121. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FOI-97-NPAS-Correspondence.pdf
  122. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2025/april/cleveland-polices-peel-inspection-shows-significant-improvements/
  123. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/news/pcc-responds-to-cleveland-police-inspection-report/
  124. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publications/peel-assessment-2021-22-cleveland/
  125. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2023/march/cleveland-police-told-his-majestys-chief-inspector-of-constabulary-is-pleased-with-how-the-force-has-improved/
  126. https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets-hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/uploads/cleveland-police-peel-causes-of-concern-september-2023.pdf
  127. https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/Cleveland%2BPolice%2Bmakes%2Bprogress%2Bin%2Ball%2Bareas%2Bof%2Binspection%2Bbut%2Bfurther%2Bchanges%2Bneeded%2B11042025091000?open
  128. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Quarterly-Performance-Update.pdf
  129. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2025/june/neighbourhood-crimes-decrease-in-12-months-from-may-2024/
  130. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2025/october/preventative-and-proactive-approach-leads-to-reduction-in-house-burglaries/
  131. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2025/january/knife-crime-among-young-people-has-dropped-by-12/
  132. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/foi-ai/cleveland-police/disclosure/2024/may/foi-434-24-numbers-of-officers/
  133. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-25-Budget-and-Capital-LTFP.pdf
  134. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/contentassets/c08a83ed5352470fbba5407c96591294/annual-equality-monitoring-report-2324.pdf
  135. https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/workforce-and-business/workforce-diversity/police-workforce/latest
  136. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2024/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2024
  137. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/racism-and-spying-cases-blight-cleveland-the-worst-police-force-5dsblx3mj
  138. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3w67w9lqq4o
  139. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2024/october/former-officer-neal-murray-sentenced-at-court/
  140. https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/news/former-cleveland-police-officer-guilty-creating-witness-account
  141. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c39z4mg14zjo
  142. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-63810864
  143. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxyzpp2e4vo
  144. https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/news/cleveland-police-officer-who-made-false-incident-report-dismissed
  145. https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/news/gross-misconduct-allegations-proven-against-former-cleveland-police-sergeant
  146. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/mar/05/cleveland-police-corruption-operation-sacristy-no-charges
  147. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-24568580
  148. https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Operation_Forbes_final_report_Dec2019.pdf
  149. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmhaff/494/494vw03.htm
  150. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/peel-assessments/peel-2018/cleveland/effectiveness/
  151. https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/police-complaints-statistics-for-england-and-wales-23-24_0.pdf
  152. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/peel-reports/cleveland-2023-25/
  153. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/cleveland/stats-and-data/use-of-force/use-of-force-may-2024.pdf
  154. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/police-forces/cleveland-police/areas/cleveland-police/sd/stats-and-data/use-of-force-data/
  155. https://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/cleveland/news/2022/december/response-to-hmicfrs-inspection-around-serious-and-organised-crime/
  156. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/working-for-you/deliver-more-visible-and-effective-policing/police-performance/responses-to-hmicfrs-inspection-reports/
  157. https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/news/news-feed/cleveland-police-makes-progress-but-further-changes-needed/
  158. https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/news/crime-reduction-figures-welcomed/
  159. https://www.asianstandard.co.uk/cleveland-police-lauds-hugely-encouraging-recorded-crime-stats-and-reassures-public-that-it-will-respond-appropriately/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.