Cleveland Police will receive an additional £2 million to bolster its efforts in combating serious crime, announced by the Home Secretary. This funding comes in the wake of a fatal crash on the A66 and amid ongoing concerns about the force's resources relative to its crime rates.
The allocation aims to support the police force in the aftermath of the A66 incident. Andy McDonald, the Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, highlighted that Cleveland Police has historically faced the highest rate of recorded crime per capita in England and Wales, with approximately 123 crimes per 1,000 residents. McDonald pointed out that despite this high demand, the force has experienced one of the largest percentage reductions in police officers since 2010. "Police numbers are not the only factor, but a force facing the highest demand in the country needs the resources to respond," he stated.
While the £2 million will address some immediate funding needs, McDonald indicated a desire to discuss more permanent solutions to funding shortfalls with the Home Secretary. The Home Secretary expressed willingness to meet with local MPs to address these broader funding concerns. Luke Myer, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, also called for a government review of the police funding allocation formula.
The Home Secretary acknowledged the critical need to "review and reform" the funding formula. She indicated that an update on the schedule for discussing changes would be provided once an independent review of police force structures is completed. The context of these funding discussions includes concerns raised by MPs that while crime rates are high, officer numbers have been reduced, impacting the force's capacity to respond effectively. The additional funding is intended to help mitigate some of these challenges.