Chief Constable for One of the Countries Worst Performing Police Forces to Stand Down....
- teessidetoday
- Mar 11
- 5 min read
Chief Constable of Cleveland Police Mark Webster set to stand down from the role after three years, as more questions set to be made over Teessides most corrupt orgainsation...
11th March 2025
Cleveland Police, long plagued by scandal after scandal, is set to lose its Chief Constable, Mark Webster, as he sensationally announces his retirement using the guise as fulfilling a three-year contract as his get out clause to leave one of the countries most corrupt establishmenbts.
Hailed in several news articles as leaving behind a “legacy of reignited positivity,” amidst damming reports over the forces failure to handle the 2024 summer riots , questions over the death of a man in custody, & numerous misconduct scandals, Webster’s exit prompts a critical question: has he truly turned around one of the country’s worst-performing police forces, or is his departure a convenient escape, as the force is seen to be visibly slipping back into its old, troubled ways?
A Force Riddled with Scandal: The Context of Webster’s Tenure
Cleveland Police has a notorious history, marred by corruption scandals since the 1990s. From Operation Lancett in the late 1990s, which uncovered widespread corruption, to more recent controversies involving misconduct and leadership failures, the force has struggled to shake off its reputation as the 'problem child' of British policing. When Mark Webster took the helm in 2022, expectations were high that he would be the steady hand needed to steer the force out of its turbulent past, with mainstream press and media painting a rosy picture, describing Webster as a “solid, capable pair of hands” and suggesting that the force is “on the right track” under his stewardship. But was this narrative of progress more spin than substance?
The Claim of Progress: Scrutinising Webster’s “Legacy”
Recent news articles from the usual suspects try to highlight Webster’s supposed achievements, claiming he's set to leave behind a “legacy of reignited positivity.” Yet, none of the mainstrem publishers which have supported Websters Tenure have offerd any concrete evidence to support this assertion. Crime statistics, public confidence surveys, or independent inspections—such as those by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary—are conspicuously absent from the discussion. Without such data of Websters supposed 'successes', the claim of progress at Cleveland Police rings hollow, especially given Cleveland Police’s long-standing challenges.
Moreover, the article notes that Webster’s departure “will be seen by many as a setback,” particularly in light of the force’s “revolving door of chief constables.” This admission raises a critical point: if Webster’s leadership was truly transformative, why is his exit framed as a potential derailment of progress?
A genuinely effective leader would have built sustainable systems and a culture of accountability, ensuring that the force’s trajectory was not dependent on a single individual. The fact that his departure is viewed as a risk suggests that any improvements under Webster may have been superficial, masking deeper, unresolved issues.
Slipping Back into its Old Ways?
Perhaps the most damning implication is the suggestion that Cleveland Police risks slipping back into its old ways, this follows concerns following a recent IOPCC runling regarding the death of a Hartlepool Man in custody as part of the forces failed Operation Artemis, with claims Clevelabd Police is complicant in a cover up of the facts surrounding the mans death a number of sources have come forward to claim that Cleveland Police has not undergone the fundamental cultural and operational overhaul needed to break free from its scandal-ridden past. If the force is indeed on the brink of regression, it does call into question the effectiveness of Webster’s leadership & perhaps the reasons as to his departure.
Was his three-year contract merely a stopgap, a period of stability that failed to address systemic rot?
Or, more cynically, was Webster’s 'retirement announcement' timed to avoid accountability for emerging cracks in the façade of progress?
If leadership turnover is a persistent issue, it suggests a deeper institutional malaise that Webster, despite his “solid” reputation, was unable to cure at Teessides most scandal ridden police force. A truly effective chief constable would have prioritised long-term stability, mentoring a successor and embedding reforms that outlast their tenure. Instead, Webster’s exit now appears to leave the force vulnerable, raising doubts about the depth of his impact.
The Cost to Taxpayers: A Financial Burden Amid Austerity
Beyond questions of failed leadership and legacy, Webster’s departure raises a practical concern: how much will it cost the local taxpayer?
Cleveland Police has long been criticised for its financial inefficiencies, with previous reports highlighting budget pressures and reliance on council tax hikes to plug funding gaps. The departure of a chief constable, particularly one on a fixed-term contract, often triggers significant costs, including pension contributions, severance packages, and the expenses associated with recruiting and onboarding a replacement. Whilst theres no specific figures as to what Websters going to take away in the form of a severance package, it's reasonable to infer that these costs will be substantial, especially in a region already grappling with economic challenges.
At a time when public services are stretched thin, the financial implications of Webster’s exit are particularly galling. Taxpayers, many of whom have borne the brunt of funding shortfalls through increased council tax bills, deserve transparency about how much this leadership transition will cost. Moreover, they deserve assurance that the next chief constable will not simply be another temporary inanimate carbon rod fix, draining resources without delivering lasting change.
A Convenient Exit?
The timing of Webster’s retirement announcement—coinciding with the end of his three-year contract—invites speculation about his true intentions., especially as the force sees one of its Detective Sargents, responsible for the cracking of a major drugs operation hauked before a Misconduct Panel...
Was this always his plan, a short-term commitment to stabilise the force before moving on to greener pastures?
Or did he see the writing on the wall, recognising that Cleveland Police’s deep-seated problems were too intractable to solve within his tenure?
News article’s portraying Webster as 'a retiring hero' contrasts sharply with the reality of a force still teetering on the edge of complete dysfunction. His departure may well be less about a job well done and more about avoiding the fallout of a force that, by the admission of its former POlice & Crime Commisioner, risks slipping back into its old ways.
Mark Webster’s tenure as Chief Constable of Cleveland Police was an opportunity to break the cycle of scandal and inefficiency that has plagued the force of no public confidence for decades. Whilst mainstream press and media attempt to cast the departure of the embattled Chief Constable in a positive light, critical examination reveals a more troubling picture. The lack of concrete evidence for his “legacy of reignited positivity,”, the crime figures on Teesside being nothing short of Diablical for an area outside of the capital, the risk of regression, and the financial burden on taxpayers all point to a leadership stint that, at best, maintained the status quo and, at worst, simply failed to address systemic issues.
