Cleveland PCC Matt Storey has commended his team for achieving some landmark successes in his newly published Annual Report for 2024-25.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) supports the PCC to deliver the six priorities in his Police and Crime Plan – published at the end of last year.
The plan sets out Matt’s vision to build safe, strong and confident communities throughout Cleveland.
Publication followed extensive consultation with communities throughout the force area last summer and beyond.
Other highlights include an eight per cent fall in Cleveland’s overall crime rate for 2024. That meant there were 6,000-plus fewer victims during the course of the year.
Government figures for year ending December 2024 also saw significant drops in recorded incidents of stalking and harassment, public order offences, burglary, vehicle crime and violence against person.
Falling crime figures were backed by a positive PEEL inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) towards the end of the year.
Cleveland Police was given an overall “good” rating making the force one of the most improved in the country.
Funding secured
The OPCC also secured more than £2.5m from the Home Office in Violence Reduction and Hotspot Patrol funding.
The Youth Custody Suite was opened in Middlesbrough, providing bespoke support and guidance for young people. The facilities were seen as best practice, attracting attention from forces and partners across the country.
Hate crime was highlighted as one of Matt’s key priorities. He was behind work to re-invigorate the Strategic Hate Crime Partnership with the aim of fighting discrimination and prejudice across Cleveland.
A Knife Crime Summit brought together key partners, experts and people with lived experience to develop a strategy to tackle knife crime.
Following the Summit, Matt distributed £80,000 of funding to local organisations to educate and work with young people to prevent knife crime in the future.
In addition, Matt met Dame Diana Johnson, Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention during a visit to Cleveland in January.
He was also introduced to HRH King Charles III when the King and Queen Camilla visited Middlesbrough in February.
Matt said: “The energy and enthusiasm we have in Cleveland to try and make our area a safer, more confident place is inspirational.
“Engaging with local people right across Cleveland and doing my best to be their voice at Cleveland Police has been hugely rewarding.
“Towards the end of the year, there were some massively encouraging signs in particular falling crime rates and a positive PEEL inspection.
“I am under no illusion that there is still a lot of work to do but we do now have an excellent foundation to build upon.”
However, the report does not shy away from the violent disorder, which blighted Hartlepool and Middlesbrough last summer.
It makes reference to the disorder, after which more than 118 people were charged and prison sentences totalling more than 75 years were handed out by the courts.
Following the disorder, Matt wanted to find out as much as possible from people either involved in or impacted by it.
He hosted focus groups with victims, read Victim Impact Statements and even visited those involved in the disturbances in prison with the help of commissioned service Restorative Cleveland.
Matt wanted to get a fuller understanding of the community tensions and challenges, which lay behind the disorder. He wanted to know why people took part as well as how communities felt afterwards.
As a result of his commitment, the PCC’s Office (OPCC) was shortlisted for the Public Sector Award at the 2024 Tees Valley Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Awards.
The PCC's Annual Report 2024-25 can be downloaded here