Key facts
- Cleveland Police will receive an additional £2 million to tackle serious crime.
- The funding is a response to recent fatal incidents and disorder in the area.
- The additional resources will support existing operations, including the 'Clear, Hold, Build' approach.
- The allocation follows the deaths of seven people in a car crash on the A66, including two police officers.
- Local leaders had previously raised concerns about police strain due to suspected gangland violence.
Cleveland Police have received an additional £2 million in funding to combat serious crime, following a series of fatal incidents and disorder in the region. The announcement was made by Shabana Mahmood, who confirmed the allocation to address the exceptional pressure placed on the force.
The funding aims to bolster existing operations, including the 'Clear, Hold, Build' approach, which targets both serious crime and its underlying causes. This initiative has reportedly shown success in other areas.
The allocation comes in the wake of a fatal car crash on the A66 that resulted in seven deaths, including those of two police officers, PC Tom Clough and PC Matthew Blades. The collision involved a vehicle travelling the wrong way down the dual carriageway. Investigations into the crash have led to 27 arrests, and police have indicated potential links to organised criminal activity.
Local leaders, including five Labour Teesside MPs, had previously called for increased financial support, citing strain on police resources due to suspected gangland violence and disorder. Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey had also highlighted a significant shortfall in the force's budget and noted Cleveland's high crime rate per 1,000 population.
In addition to the immediate funding, Ms Mahmood indicated a commitment to a wider review of the police funding formula to ensure fairer allocation across forces.