6 days Ago By [email protected] (Daniel Hodgson)
Cleveland Police is set to benefit from up to 51 new officers, all due to be in post within a year. The split will see up to 20 additional neighbourhood police officers and 31 new PCSOs across Teesside and Hartlepool ’s policing area, in place by April 2026. The news comes with promises of visible patrols to return to the region’s town centres after what the Labour Party describe as “a decade of decline”.
Every neighbourhood in the North East will have named, contactable officers from July this year, with a response “guaranteed” for residents within 72 hours of an enquiry. While Labour’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has welcomed the news, Shadow Policing Minister and the North East's sole Conservative MP Matt Vickers has said that Labour are not on the side of police officers and victims of crime. The North East is set to gain an additional 141 neighbourhood police officers, all set to be in post within a year, with Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police also benefiting.
The announcement asserts that a dedicated antisocial behaviour leader in each police force will work with residents and businesses to develop tailored action plans. Additionally, there are set to be regular patrols in town centres during peak times to increase police visibility where it's needed most. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "The heartbeat of our Great British policing tradition is seeing bobbies on the beat but for too long, communities have been feeling abandoned as crime soars.
Too many communities no longer feel safe because they do not have local officers to turn to as yobs and street criminals run amok in their towns and villages. "It should not matter where you live – everyone deserves local, visible policing they can trust, and with our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee we will end this postcode lottery and restore policing to our communities." A commitment has been made that by the end of parliament, the North East will see its share of the 13,000 additional neighbourhood officers that will be deployed across England and Wales by 2029.
Officers will also be equipped with new powers through the Crime and Policing Bill to tackle street crime and antisocial behaviour more effectively. This investment is said to mark the beginning of the Government's commitment to safer communities through its Plan for Change and Safer Streets mission, restoring confidence in local policing and making the North East a safer place to live and thrive. However, while the news has unsurprisingly been welcomed by Labour politicians, not all the region’s MPs are happy.
Matt Vickers, Conservative MP for Stockton West said the Government were “playing games with public safety”. Mr Vickers, who serves as the Shadow Policing Minister, said: “We should all want to see the police doing what they do best — out on the beat, preventing crime and catching criminals. But under this Labour government, officers are being dragged away from frontline duties and burdened with distractions that the public simply don’t see as priorities.
“The Government's so-called funding increase is nothing more than a smokescreen — it hides a damaging National Insurance hike that’s draining police budgets behind the scenes. The result? An estimated £118 million shortfall across the country, fewer officers on our streets, and slower justice for victims. “In Cleveland alone, Labour’s failure left a £3 million black hole in the budget - enough to force the loss of 50 officers or hit residents with higher council tax bills.
This is not leadership - it's negligence.” Mr Vickers' comments partly relate to December, when a debate ensued between Stockton’s two MPs over whether a government finance package would mean a boost or a shortfall for Cleveland Police . Following this month's announcement, the office of the PCC highlighted that on top of 51 paid officers, Cleveland Police are set to gain 12 special constables (who are volunteers).
Matt Storey, Labour’s PCC for Cleveland said: “Enhancing neighbourhood policing is a key objective in my Police and Crime Plan and part of my pledge to deliver more visible and effective policing in Cleveland. “The public constantly tells me that they would like to see more officers at work in their communities. Being more visible, accessible and present means the public have a greater confidence in the service and are more likely to report crime and provide intelligence.
“I look forward to working with the Chief Constable to ensure the Guarantee is fully realised in the Cleveland Police area. I will monitor delivery closely, to make sure effective neighbourhood policing becomes a reality for all communities.” For the latest Stockton news direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter.
