Cleveland Police is no longer in special measures

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has announced Cleveland Police is out of “special measures” today (20th September).

Cleveland Police has been under the oversight of the HMICFRS since April 2019, and following a number of in-depth inspections over the last four and half years, it has been recognised that there have been many significant improvements across the service delivery of Cleveland Police.

Chief Constable Mark Webster said:

“I am very pleased to confirm that Cleveland Police is no longer in special measures and has been removed from the “engage” phase of force monitoring by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

“Since joining Cleveland Police in April 2022, I have been committed to steering a clear pathway out of HMICFRS oversight. I have also seen the commitment and determination of colleagues every day, striving to drive the force forward.

“I would like to publicly thank each and every officer, member of staff, volunteer, the senior leadership team and the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner for their hard work and dedication which has led us to this point. The team has shown professionalism and dedication in following our mission to Protect People, Protect Communities, Tackle Criminals and Be The Best We Can Be.

“Cleveland Police has the second highest rate of arrests nationally, crime has fallen over the summer this year compared to the previous 12 months, we have an above average solved crime rate for residential burglary, personal robbery, vehicle crime and theft from person, we've significantly improved the quality of prosecutions we put before the courts and are rated as one of the best forces nationally for this, and the force has the fourth fastest average answer time nationally for 999 calls.

"There are many more examples of how Cleveland Police has improved, however we will not lose sight of the fact there is still much more to be done.

“Today we are celebrating this news and acknowledging Cleveland Police isn’t the same force it was in 2019, but this does not mean our hard work will stop. We will continue to push forward and embed sustainable improvement to deliver the best possible service to the public of Teesside.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner praised the chief, saying:

"Mark's outstanding leadership and unwavering dedication are some of the key reasons why the force is in this positive position today."

HMICFRS noted improvements including reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and better use of problem-solving techniques.

Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke said:

"I am reassured by the plans Cleveland Police has in place to continue making improvements.

"The force will be inspected again next year, when we will assess its progress to make sure the people of Cleveland are getting the service they deserve from their police force."

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.