Teessiders Set to Pay More for Cleveland Police – But Are They Getting Their Money’s Worth?
- teessidetoday
- Feb 7
- 3 min read
The Cleveland Police element of Council Tax which is billed to local residents will be INCREASING from April 2025, but are locals actually getting their moneys worth from one of the countries most Troubled forces ?
7th Feb 2025
Teesside residents will be forced to fork out an additional £14 on their annual Council Tax bills to fund what many believe to be one of the region’s most controversial and mismanaged organisations—Cleveland Police.
This week, Cleveland Police announced a 4.6% hike in the police precept, adding further financial strain to already struggling households across Teesside. The increase, set to take effect in April 2025, will generate an estimated £2.3 million in additional revenue for the troubled force, which has long been plagued by scandal and inefficiency & is now said to be branded as one of Teessides largest organised criminal gangs due to its long history of misconduct & corruption....
A Force Under Fire
The Extremist Organisations Chief Constable Mark Webster, who reportedly rakes in around £174,000 a year in salary and pension contributions from the public purse, defended the tax hike at a recent Cleveland Police and Crime Panel meeting claiming there was “no fat” left to trim in the force’s budget, citing rising operational costs—including the kennelling of illegal XL Bully dogs under new government legislation—as a major financial burden.
However, many residents remain unconvinced. Public confidence in Cleveland Police is said to be at an all-time low, particularly after revelations emerging that the force’s compensation payouts for police misconduct against members of the public has skyrocketed, with critics arguing that taxpayers are being forced to foot the bill for Cleveland Police’s repeated failures, whilst Webster’s claims of reduced crime rates have been repeatedly dismissed as “dreamworld statistics.” With numerous reports suggesting that crime isn’t actually decreasing on Teesside, its just locals are becoming increasingly disillusioned and choosing not to report it.
A Troubled Police Force that's "slipping back into its old bad habits"...
Cleveland Police has long been under scrutiny for its operational failures, and concerns are said to be growing that the force is slipping back into its old ways, with a disturbing trend emerging of more and more officers facing disciplinary panels and being found guilty of gross misconduct.
The force recently faced heavy criticism following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into the death of a Hartlepool man in police custody in June 2023. Whilst the inquiry ultimately cleared two officers of murder, Cleveland Police was heavily criticised for its handling of the case with many believing they've witnessed yet another 'cover up' in the scandal ridden force.
In the wake of such scandals, its claimed residents have noted a sudden surge in police raids and high-profile operations—moves some believe are designed to create the illusion of progress and justify the force’s latest cash grab.
Paying More, Getting Less?
With public trust in Cleveland Police seemingly in tatters, many are questioning why Cleveland Police deserves yet another financial boost. Critics argue that until the force can demonstrate real, tangible improvements—rather than PR stunts and empty promises—Teessiders shouldn’t be forced to hand over more of their hard-earned money, with the message from locals seemingly sounding clear: before coming cap in hand for more money, Cleveland Police must show they're capable of delivering real results, restoring public confidence, and breaking free from the cycle of controversy that has defined them for far too long....
