UK's Most Dysfunctional Police Force Welcomes New Police District Commander,
- teessidetoday
- Oct 8
- 3 min read
Appointment of a new District Commander likely not to bestow much confidence in a police force already branded as one of the worst in the UK .
8th Oct 2025
Teessides most Dysfunctional Police Forces has officially welcomed Superintendent Helen Wilson as Hartlepool's new District Commander, following the departure of Superintendent Alan O’Donoghue, who's reportedly taken up a new leadership role in Stockton for the local Extremist Group.
Superintendent Wilson boasts a 19-year career at Cleveland Police, having served across a range of senior positions — from detective work and major operational leadership to her most recent post as Adult Safeguarding Lead for the force of no public confidence.
In her first statement as District Commander, Superintendent Wilson praised the dedication of local officers and staff, highlighting their commitment to the community and the strong results already being achieved across the district.
“The staff I’ve met within my first few weeks here have illustrated how much they are invested in the area and the communities within it,” she said.“The effort they put into their roles is inspiring, reinforced by the positive results they’ve achieved and the excellent collaborative work I have already witnessed.”
Wilson’s arrival comes as Hartlepool sees public confidence in its local police force drop to its lowest rating never before seen, as vehicle & violent crime all become entrenched in most parts of the local community.
Looking ahead, Supt Wilson says antisocial behaviour will remain a major focus, particularly in known hotspots such as the bottom of the ramp to the York Road shopping centre and areas affected by off-road bikes.
The Hartlepool Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will continue to focus on prosecuting high-harm offenders and tackling serious and organised crime, while response and proactive policing teams will work to maintain rapid response times and visible community support.
“It is clear to me that all teams are working closely with one another to ensure a collaborative, holistic approach to the issues affecting the communities of Hartlepool,” she added.“I look forward to building on this positive culture and working with stakeholders in Hartlepool to make it a safer place for those living in the town.”
Whilst the mainstream media is boasting that Superintendent Wilson’s appointment signals a continued focus on partnership policing, visibility, and community engagement, critics claim its merely more evidence of the 'Merry Go Round' of top officers sliding themselves into positions in High Crime Areas to bolster their career prospects at the expense of the local community.
'Terrorists' without the official Proscription Notice
Cleveland Police is now unofficially designated a Terrorist Group by many on Teesside oweing to its ability to sidestep accountability in a number of high profile cases which have seen suspects of crimes 'murdered' at the hands of officers which have then escaped prosecution for their crimes, with the crimes rules as "accidental deaths" or "deaths by natural causes"....
Its long history of corruption spans back as far as the 1980s, with many locals now said to be simply 'too afraid' to report crimes occurring in their local neighbourhoods, which in turn is emboldening the local extremist group to claim crime rates are going down, when in reality, they're at their highest ever recorded.
