Cleveland police chief proud of force but being ‘let down’ by funding

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller has expressed pride in her force's bravery, but claimed it is being "let down" by inadequate funding following a fatal crash that killed seven people, including two officers. In her first interview since the incident, Fuller said the force needs to merge with a larger force to gain the necessary resources.

The officers are dealing with high crime levels, comparable to those in metropolitan forces, but with fewer than half the number of officers available. A Volkswagen carrying five young men drove the wrong way down the motorway, colliding with a police car shortly before the crash. The Independent Office for Police Conduct stated that the pursuit of the car was abandoned 10 seconds before the collision.

Fuller described the force as one of the most improved in England and Wales, with recent arrests for organised crime and 16 people jailed for such crimes over the past two years. Despite recent funding and support, Fuller emphasized the need for continuous additional funding to enable the force to meet its challenges.