Today Simon Clarke has written to Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, Barry Coppinger, to express concern about the level of police cover in East Cleveland and argue that this be reconsidered as a priority as the Force prepares to appoint a new Chief Constable.
East Cleveland faces a unique challenge to policing. Not only is the area predominantly rural, sparsely populated and difficult to reach but, compared to many other regional rural areas, is far less affluent and subject to higher crime pressures.
However, these higher crime pressures are not reflected in the distribution of the police across the region. The system is intrinsically biased towards allocating greater resource to the urban parts of #Teesside.
Following meeting after meeting, and surgery after surgery, Simon is hearing the same message – people in East Cleveland feel they don’t see enough police.
Simon is under no illusions that this is a very demanding time for policing given the state of the public finances. Nor does he have anything other than the utmost respect for the men and women of Cleveland Police. They work incredibly hard to keep residents safe. But things need to change.
Later this week, Simon will attend a major rally of local people coordinated by #Brotton Councillor Barry Hunt and local publican Graham Cutler at The Railway Arms in Brotton. This will take place at 11am on Saturday 18 November.
Simon will also be meeting with the Police Minister Nick Hurd together with Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen in Parliament tomorrow.