CLEVELAND Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Steve Turner is running this year’s London marathon to raise money for Crimestoppers.
The PCC’s office works closely with the national charity, which aims to make everyone feel safe from crime regardless of where they live.
Steve will be training hard in the run up to the race on 2 October 2022. He will compete alongside 40,000 runners on the 26.2 mile course, which takes in many of the capital’s major landmarks.
He said: “I’ve never really been into running and it’s been a long time since I did any serious training. This will be an enormous challenge for me personally.
“However, it’s a great cause and I’m really pleased to be able to help raise funds for an organisation, with which I work.
“From a practical point of view, my good friend Mike Hind MBE has kindly agreed to provide the detailed physical training plan, which I need
“However, I’m also hoping for lots of personal support along the way. That will encourage my journey to become a marathon runner whilst supporting a good cause.”
Between April and December last year,* 44 people were arrested and charged in Cleveland as a result of information received via Crimestoppers.
Drugs seizures
In the same period, the number of people contacting Crimestoppers increased by 14 per cent. The charity received 2,521 – often anonymous – reports from the public about crime and antisocial behaviour. Almost 50 per cent of them related to drugs and drug dealing.
Among Crimestoppers’ success stories during the period was the arrest and charge of a drugs trafficker. He now faces a lengthy jail sentence after his hotel room was searched. Police found a large quantity of Class A drugs and cash after they used intelligence supplied by a report to Crimestoppers.
As a result of information from Crimestoppers, police also seized cannabis worth more than £100,000 after they were told it was being grown at an address in Cleveland.
Previous OPCC funding has enabled Crimestoppers to provide resource packs to all of Cleveland’s secondary schools. These packs contained information on how to stay safe and report criminal activity, as part of Crimestoppers’ youth-focussed Fearless project.
Fleur Brown, Crimestoppers North East Rregional Manager, said “ It’s fantastic news to hear that Steve is entering the London Marathon for us. It’s great that he wants to support the charity.”
Steve is hoping supporters will follow his progress over the coming months and help to support his chosen charity.
You can access Steve’s Just Giving page via this link:
*Information provided as part of Crimestoppers- Cleveland Statistics Report April 2021 to December 2021.