MP set to meet Lord Chancellor over campaign to return mothballed Hartlepool Police Station cells

Mr Hill has been calling for unused custody cells at Hartlepool Police Station to be reopened saying officers are being pulled out of town to transport suspects to Middlesbrough.

This week he raised the issue in Parliament with Robert Buckland The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, and also with Acting Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Oldroyd.

Hartlepool Custody Suite was mothballed in early 2019 with Cleveland Police saying a purpose-built custody suite in Middlesbrough better caters for the needs of vulnerable people or those in need of medical attention.

Mr Buckland agreed to discuss the issue with Mr Hill who also referred to the loss of Hartlepool’s magistrates’ court in the Commons.

Mr Hill said: "I raised this matter in Parliament with the Justice Minister Robert Buckland describing the need to reopen the cells as a matter of importance to build back confidence, and he has agreed to meet with me to discuss it further.”

Mr Buckland responded that police officer numbers in Cleveland are rising in an encouraging way.

Regarding Hartlepool’s custody cells he added: “Of course I will discuss the matter with him.

"He will know that it is vital that we maintain local justice, but at the same time make sure that we use remote technology as well in order to get cases on as quickly as possible and to deliver justice to victims.”

Mr Hill said he has also recently met with the new acting Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Oldroyd to discuss priorities for policing in Hartlepool.

He said: “Community Policing clearly was a mutually recognised concern; the visibility of the police on our streets is essential if confidence is to be returned.”

He said the Acting Commissioner has agreed to look the cells issue and it is subject to a review of corporate property.

"This is a clear step forward in the right direction and the sooner we get our cells back the better,” said Mr Hill.

Cleveland Police says the operational needs of the force, including the use of Hartlepool custody suite, are constantly under review.

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