Plans for policing in Stockton revealed - as Teesside crime rates are explored
A council meeting in Stockton's heard how Teesside has some of the highest levels of crime in the country
A council meeting in Stockton's heard how Teesside has some of the highest levels of crime in the country.
A Safer Stockton Partnership meeting was shown crime and disorder police figures, showing an almost 20 percent rise in total crime for the Cleveland police force area since 2021.
Superintendent John Wrintmore for Stockton district said: “We know Cleveland Police has the highest level of crime across the UK. That is a particular challenge.
"We do need to get ahead of the curve upstream to turn the tap of demand off a little bit and some of that is around problem-solving and making some solutions to long-term issues.”
“It doesn’t make the most pleasant of reading. It paints a challenging picture in reality. Within that there are some small chinks of positivity.
“Cleveland does have the highest crime rate across UK policing, and really high in some key categories such as offences with the use of a firearm, serious violence offences – second highest in the country.
"Police-generated crime including drugs offences, public disorder and possession of weapons has increased, which is a positive and demonstrates some of the pro-activity.”
Superintendent Wrintmore referred to figures, most of which showed rises for 2022 compared to 2021. Total crime rose by 18% including increases of 50% for robbery, 49% home burglary and 17.5% rape.
He said the force was in the first phase of restructuring, with a nominated superintendent in each of four new districts, and there will be dedicated chief inspectors for crime, neighbourhoods and response.
He added a new report was expected soon from watchdogs His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), following a highly critical report in 2019 and improvements since.
Supt Wrintmore said: “We’re hopeful that the report will reflect some really positive progress across the force and identify areas that the force is now good at. That said, we do anticipate and are realistic to the fact that there’s still significant improvement required. So there’s still much to do, but there are some positive signs.”
He said the chief constable and police and crime commissioner (PCC) were looking at alternative funding, with ambitions for more staff.
He said: “The funding formula disadvantages Cleveland in a number of ways. I know that’s being reviewed centrally by government but at the moment there is a resourcing gap.”
He added he had authorised funding to target issues in the Parkfield and Oxbridge areas, with a neighbourhood week of action, and said a team formed last November had made 117 arrests.
He added: “The new force model will give me a pro-active team for Stockton, that I can utilise to target some of the areas that are causing the most concern and trouble.”
He told how his priorities would be raising investigation and professional standards and problem-solving. He said the current chief constable was committed to neighbourhood policing.
He added: “What I will give you a guarantee, and you can judge me on this in the next six to 12 months, is the visibility of policing across Stockton, whether it be through social media, mainstream media with the support of other outlets, and that informal engagement as well.”
Councillor Ann McCoy said people saw policing issues like lack of officers and complaints over responses. She said: “It’s great to hear the targeted arrests but that doesn’t give confidence to the residents day-to-day. What can you do to convince members of the public?”
Supt Wrintmore agreed neighbourhood teams were not as fully staffed as they should be, and could be diverted to meet immediate demands. He said: “They are stretched.
“There’s not as many in post as we’d like there to be. Hopefully that’ll improve in the near future.
“Typically we’ll get about 350 999 calls in a day about 650 101 calls across the force. A significant demand and we do struggle to resource some of that.
“As an organisation we can’t respond to everything as we did six, seven years ago. We can’t do that now unfortunately because we don’t have the capacity to do it.
“We’re struggling with additional mental health demand on the organisation as well. We’re optimistic that in the fullness of time with some additional capacity and resource that we can be more visible and we can be more responsive. I think we’re doing the best that we can with what we’ve got.
“You see examples every day of fantastic policing. Yes we have been under the spotlight of scrutiny, yes there are some morale challenges for the organisation but there’s some really committed staff… that go the extra mile to try and help and support people, and they’re doing their very best in difficult circumstances.”