Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner has reiterated his passion to enhance policing in Cleveland, as his first annual report is published.
The appointment of a new chief constable, the introduction of an enhanced police complaints model and the development of the COPA app are key achievements featured in the report.
The report covers the period from Steve’s election in May 2021 to April 2022. It recognises the achievements of the PCC and his team during this period.
It also celebrates the additional £4m secured by the Commissioner’s team to support measures to combat crime and support victims.
Part of this funding includes the £3.5m in Government funding to set up the Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence (CURV). CURV is Cleveland’s first anti-violence partnership to prevent and reduce violent crime.
One of the small team’s first moves was to give £500,000 to a range of projects. They aim to divert young people from crime and demonstrate the massive impact of violence on the whole community.
In addition to CURV, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) attracted an extra £880,000 in Government funding. The OPCC will invest the money in specialist staff to help and support victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse recover.
Cleveland PCC Steve Turner said: “After my first full year in office, I am so proud of everything myself and my team have achieved on behalf of the people of Cleveland.
“It has been a tough year but we’ve managed to deliver on so many of the promises I made when I came into this role in May 2021.
“However, the hard work continues to reduce crime throughout Cleveland – in particular violent crime – and disrupt the business of organised crime gangs, many of whom make their money from supplying illegal drugs.”
2021-22 Key Achievements
The OPCC’s key achievements in 2021-22 included:
- Appointment of Mark Webster as Chief Constable of Cleveland Police.
- Start of work to develop England and Wales’ only operational policing app COPA (Cleveland Online Policing App)
- A national Howard League award for the successful DIVERT programme. DIVERT aims to divert offenders away from the criminal justice system and address their offending behaviour.
- Funding worth £145,000 to community groups. Of the total, £50,000 was given to projects aimed at preventing and reducing violence throughout Cleveland
- Commitment to spend £444,000 over three years on targeted youth outreach services. They are aim to combat antisocial behaviour and keep young people motivated and occupied
- Support for more than 2,800 victims of crime and/or antisocial behaviour via commissioned service Victim Care Advice and Support (VCAS.)
To read more, go to: https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/commissioner/annual-report/