On 24th September 2025, Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey held a scrutiny meeting with Cleveland Police on the topic of Out of Court Resolutions (OoCRs).
OoCRs are alternatives to formal court prosecution for lower level crimes. They allow perpetrators to be held accountable for their actions and address any harm caused without the need for court appearances.
Options include cautions, community resolutions and deferred prosecutions.
Matt was not assured by the update provided by Cleveland Police. The notes from this session can be found below:
Scrutiny Meeting Notes – OoCR – 24 September 2025 (application, 155kB)
Matt’s response
Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said: “I scrutinised Cleveland Police on their use of Out of Court Resolutions (OoCRs) in September 2024, as part of my programme to hold the force to account on key issues.
“During the recent revisit of this topic, it became clear that whilst the force has plans in place to improve the way it uses OoCRs, those plans have not shown any meaningful impact since last year.
“Improving performance in this area is vitally important. Government and police chiefs want to increase the use of OoCRs across England and Wales to provide a fast and effective remedy to the crime and antisocial behaviour in our communities.
“Increased use of OoCRs is one of my key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan, as they help to tackle the root causes of offending behaviour, repair harm and, most importantly, support victims and allow their voices to be heard.
“This isn’t about being soft on crime. Cleveland Police has one of the highest charge rates in the country – but prosecution through the courts is not always the most proportionate or appropriate method of resolving crimes, either for the victim or the perpetrator.
“I plan to keep a close eye on the force’s performance on OoCRs over the next six months and re-visit this issue at a future scrutiny meeting.”