Video Showing Local Resident Being Escorted From Hartlepool Civic Centre By Police Sparks Debate Over Who's Right & Wrong ?
- teessidetoday
- Dec 1, 2024
- 3 min read
Hartlepool Borough Councils facing criticism over its treatment towards an allegedly "disabled" local resident, after he was escorted from the premises by police for apparently "raising his voice".....
1st Dec 2024
A video circulating on social media has ignited a debate over Hartlepool Borough Council's treatment towards members of the public, particularly those who are disabled, feel ignored, or have been 'disrespected' by local officials.
The video published on Youtube in November reportedly shows a partially deaf Hartlepool Man being escorted from the councils Civic Centre, after being accused of being “loud and aggressive.” towards council staff....
The video, begins with the man entering the Civic Centre to allegedly raise concerns about repeated missed bin collections. However, the video shows council staff became immediately uncooperative after noticing the man was recording the encounter on his mobile phone. Security staff were then called to intervene after council officers initially withdrew from assisting the man, returning only after consulting with a manager a short time later.
The situation then reportedly escalated when staff were said to have contacted Cleveland Police, stating the man refused to leave after being asked to do so. Two police officers from the nearby Hartlepool Police station arrived within minutes and subsequently escorted the man out of the building. During the exchange, the man insisted his raised voice was due to his hearing impairment, not aggression. He also denied swearing or being abusive towards council staff, despite accusations from the council officer that the local man had previously "swore" over the telephone. The police officer escorting the man from the building even questioned him about this directly as he left the towns Civic Centre, onto which the man denied the allegations made by the council member of staff.
Public Distrust in the Council is getting worse
The incident has left some locals questioning just who's in the right or the wrong. If the man had truly been abusive, why, some ask, didn't security staff simply to remove him from the building without involving the police?
This incident has also reportedly highlighting deeper frustrations with Hartlepool Borough Council’s approach to public complaints. The council’s reported opposition to recording devices being used by members of the public within its premises has been widely criticised, especially in light of past complaints about officer misconduct.
Local residents have also noted that complaints against Hartlepool Borough Council frequently fail at the Local Government Ombudsman stage due to a lack of evidence. Without recordings, such disputes often boil down to one person’s word against another’s, leaving many locals feeling powerless against a council they already view as, "corrupt", unresponsive and detached.
Cleveland Polices apparent "prompt" Response Fuels Further Frustration
Cleveland Police’s involvement has also sparked criticism over the incident. With some arguing that the police were seemingly quick to respond to the council’s call to eject a local man from a council building but repeatedly failing to prioritise more serious crimes such as assaults, burglaries, or anti-social behaviour. This disparity & an apparent "Two Tiered" response has further angered local residents who feel Cleveland Police are being used as the hired 'goons' & are on special call for a local council coming up against increasing hostility from locals who are seeing their services sliced to almost nothing.
A Wider Reflection of Local Discontent
This incident is just the latest flash-point in what's said to be ever growing public dissatisfaction with Hartlepool Borough Council. Many residents are already reeling from service cuts, including reduced bin collections, service cuts and persistent delays in resolving issues, while council officers appear to operate with seemingly little accountability.
For those feeling increasingly ignored and neglected, this video is likely to become a symbol of everything they believe is wrong with the way Hartlepool Borough council operates: quick to blame the public, slow to take responsibility, and utterly dismissive of the concerns of ordinary people with the council being urged to improve how it interacts with the public and to implement measures that prioritise fairness and respect for all residents, especially those with disabilities or legitimate grievances.
What's your view ?
The Video can be viewed from the link below ...
