Cleveland police chief proud of force but being 'let down' by funding
Victoria Fuller tells the BBC Cleveland Police needs to become part of a larger, strategic force with greater resources.
Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller expressed pride in her force but lamented that it was being let down by inadequate funding, following a fatal A66 crash that killed seven people, including two officers. Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Fuller stated that her officers face among the highest crime levels in the country, comparable to metropolitan forces, but with significantly fewer officers.
The crash occurred when a Volkswagen Passat driven by five young men, with connections to prior criminal activity, collided with a police car that officers were pursuing. Fuller expressed gratitude for the £2m additional funding provided in response to the crash and the 200 officers drafted in from elsewhere, but emphasized the need for consistent support.
She highlighted that Cleveland Police is grappling with the highest recorded crime rate in England and Wales, while also facing the largest decrease in officers since 2010, as if it were a rural force. Fuller acknowledged the complex challenges in policing Middlesbrough, citing high rates of school absence, drug addiction, and mental health issues.
Despite the current difficulties, Fuller remains hopeful that reforming policing nationwide will lead to Cleveland Police becoming one of the strategic forces with the necessary resources and capabilities to respond effectively.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
