Local News

MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Simon Clarke, has met with the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid MP to highlight the resources required to enable Cleveland police to tackle crime effectively across our area;

Two police officers who suffered injuries on duty whilst detaining a violent suspect have been commended;

...and members of the public are being advised to make sure they keep up to date with the details of Universal Credit.

MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Simon Clarke, has met with the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid MP to highlight the resources required to enable Cleveland police to tackle crime effectively across our area. 

Simon outlined the strong plan set out by new Chief Constable, Mike Veale, to ensure Cleveland police have the maximum number of deployable officers available within the constraints of their existing £125 million budget, whilst emphasising the importance that the demand for more resources is considered carefully in the upcoming Police Funding Settlement which will be announced in December.

During the discussion the Home Secretary committed to arguing for increased central Government spending on policing in the 2019 multi-year Spending Review, a commitment to which Simon has pledged his support.

Two police officers who suffered injuries on duty whilst detaining a violent suspect have been commended.

PC Mark Sykes and Acting Sergeant Andy Wellens approached two suspects, a man and a woman, with the intention of speaking to them about a number of burglaries whereby vulnerable victims had been targeted the previous evening. As the officers tried to speak to them, they made off, but were closely pursued.

Acting Sergeant Wellens was struggling with the male suspect on the floor when PC Sykes came to assist him. As the officers struggled with the male, Acting Sergeant Wellens was assaulted and as PC Sykes restrained him he was bitten on his leg by the suspect.

PC Sykes was able to strike the male to subdue him which allowed the officers to arrest him, despite the assaults. 

The investigation led to stolen property being recovered and several people being charged. The suspect received a 40 month prison sentence for a number of offences.

Members of the public are being advised to make sure they keep up to date with the details of Universal Credit.

Universal Credit is being rolled out for new benefit claimants throughout Redcar and Cleveland from Wednesday 28 November and will replace:

- Housing Benefit

- Child Tax Credit

- Income Support

- Working Tax Credit

- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

More information is available on the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council website.