Inside Cleveland Police Misconduct Panels: Claims of a Culture of Silence & Corruption

“Kangaroo Courts”: Source Close to Cleveland Police Alleges Its Misconduct Hearings 'Lack the Most Basic Elements of Transparency'....

10th March 2026

Fresh concerns have emerged over the integrity of police misconduct hearings being held on Teesside, after a source approached the Teesside & Durham Post alleging that some proceedings are amounting to little more than “kangaroo courts”.

The source who spoke to the Teesside & Durham Post on the guarantee that we protected their identity alleged that the way certain hearings are being conducted by Cleveland Police raises serious questions about transparency and accountability within the force.

Assistant Chief officer Ian Wright is being accused of 'Covering Up' identities of certain officers to protect Cleveland Polices tattered reputation.

The criticism follows controversy surrounding a recent misconduct panel hearing where the identity of a former officer—referred to only as Officer X—was not disclosed to the public. It's understood the chair of the panel Ian Wright refused to reveal the officer’s name, despite claims that no compelling evidence was ever presented showing why such anonymity was necessary. The source, who works closely with Cleveland Police claim the decision has intensified concerns about a culture of secrecy within the already embattled police service, especially officers who've been dismissed following incidents of domestic abuse.

One source told the Teesside & Durham Post that shielding officers’ identities in this way is undermining public confidence in the misconduct system.

“Members of the public are repeatedly told by officers’ that identities are being withheld for safety reasons or because disclosure's not in the public interest,”. “In reality, its because they're trying to protect the force rather than the public.”

The allegations come amid much wider scrutiny of policing standards nationally as well as renewed debate over how misconduct hearings are conducted. Meanwhile, its claimed tensions are brewing within the disgraced police force over how disciplinary proceedings should operate.

The controversy surrounding anonymity decisions and claims of institutional protection by Cleveland Police comes at a sensitive time for the force which commands absolutely no public confidence across its force area, & has previously faced criticism over standards, governance & allegations of assaults against members of the public in custody & even allegations of 'Murder'.....

Campaigners and police observers argue that transparency in misconduct hearings is essential if public trust is ever to be rebuilt, However, As the scrutiny intensifies on Teesside's Publicly Funded Extremist Group, the questions remain over whether the current system is actually delivering genuine accountability—or whether, as critics claim, some hearings risk becoming little more than “kangaroo courts” conducted behind a veil of secrecy.

What do you think ?

is Cleveland Police hiding the identities of officers accused of misconduct to protect the force ?

• YES
• NO