Inspectors hail improvements at Cleveland Police - but say some areas remain a concern

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found that Cleveland Police has started a significant programme of work since previous inspections, leading to improvements in most areas relating to the protection of vulnerable people, including supporting victims of domestic abuse, catching criminals and engaging with victims.

Cleveland Police has prioritised the way it identifies, assesses and supports victims of domestic abuse, taking positive action at the scene to arrest offenders and applying for orders to protect the most vulnerable victims.

Inspectors say this is starting to have a positive impact in reducing the number of times a victim suffers further occurrences of domestic abuse.

But they say while the force is providing a better service overall to victims of domestic abuse, it still needs to improve how it records violent crime, particularly crimes relating to domestic abuse.

HMICFRS also said Cleveland Police needs to improve how it assesses, safeguards and investigates cases involving children, such as children who go missing from home, domestic abuse against a child, child abuse and child exploitation.

The inspectorate said the force should ensure that children are not held in custody overnight unnecessarily because of delays in the arrival of an appropriate adult to look after their needs and represent them.

The report also found that the force is now correctly identifying 81% of vulnerable victims, and 64% of repeat victims, but there is still more work to do.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Wendy Williams said: “I am pleased that the force is starting to show progress in tackling these issues, and it has made significant improvements in some areas. However, there has been limited improvement in other areas – particularly in how the force protects children, and how it records violent crimes such as domestic abuse.

“The force still has work to do to respond to the areas of concern we have identified in the past. We will continue to monitor Cleveland Police on its progress, and I am confident that the commitment shown by the force’s leadership, police officers and staff will continue to drive progress in these areas.”

Chief Constable Richard Lewis said: “Our officers and staff have been so invested in making these improvements, and the positive steps forward are down to their hard work.

“I have a solid plan and have set a clear direction on the work that we still need to do. We have reached the first checkpoint on the marathon that is our improvement journey, and we are at a steady pace. Change takes time. This isn’t about ticking boxes. We’re not trying to make surface level improvements, we’re making real, lasting changes that reset how we think and operate.

“Covid-19 has impacted us all, and our workforce dealt with this inspection during the turbulent months of 2020. Like each organisation, the pandemic has impacted upon plans that we had, but we are adjusting to new ways of working and are still on the right track. I know that we now have an opportunity to rebuild an organisation and service that is better and stronger, and I’m confident we have the right people to get us across the finish line.”

Support your Mail and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on Pools and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.