Steve Turner: Conservative candidate for Cleveland PCC

In the running for the role of Police and Crime Commissioner in the May election, Turner has seen the problems and failings out there.

He has served as a Conservative councillor in Redcar and Cleveland, while overseeing the North-East’s leave campaign in the 2016 Brexit Referendum as the UKIP North-East regional chairman.

He talks of the anti-social behaviour in Dormanstown, the worries of teenagers in speaking out of turn, and the need to clamp down on issues in the communities. It’s not all about politics in the role he hopes to hold.

“One key thing I want to get back to is a zero tolerance approach,’’ he insisted. “You can walk into any community on Teesside and they will tell you of a drug deal they saw, or their neighbour, or grandson saw.

“People see it and report it – and I know people have reported drug deals going off – but the same guy is still there doing it the night after and the night after.

“I can understand why we don’t want to lift that person, the smallest cog in a massive problem, but I want to disrupt it and break it down. It’s about giving the public confidence we are doing something about it.’’

Confidence and belief is an issue with Cleveland Police. The problems are well documented, headlines galore have been generated over its failings over recent years.

But Mr Turner doesn’t want to look at what’s gone on in the past during the watch of Barry Coppinger, isn’t concerned about the cuts which have taken hold, nor does he feel the need to go over past difficulties.

Instead he wants look forward, to make the force more respected, to regain the trust of the public.

And being critical of Mr Coppinger isn’t on his agenda: “I quite like Barry, I’ve no issues with him. We want the same things: more officers, less crime, less violence, but disagree on how we get there.’’

He added: “Everyone wants bobbies on the beat, more of them. I’m a Teesside lad and I know the issues. We all recognise we need more coppers on the street and in the communities.

“We can argue all day about losing them in the past, but that’s happened now.

“We want more, the Government recognise that. Cleveland are getting 72 this year with more to come.

“We need a PCC to work with the Government to get our share. I don’t see the point of a PCC being outside banging on the window saying ‘you took them away, give us them back’. Instead sit down and say ‘thanks for giving us some back and this is now what we need’.

“It’s a planned approach, rather than saying it’s all been taken away and I feel the positivity has been lacking.

“I’ve sat in community meetings and the feeling we have been hard done to has filtered down. It’s not about that. Anyone privileged enough to read the report about how bad Cleveland Police is will see it doesn’t mention funding.

“It talks of leadership, culture, lack of planning, turnover of senior officers, corruption but not finances.

“In the plan to put it right, the chief constable is clear that at no point does his plan rely on future funding. That’s my focus, not about what was right or wrong.

“We have had 110 officer vacancies we haven’t recruited or filled and that is down to leadership.’’

The fundamentals of the PCC role are to hold Cleveland Police and chief constable Richard Lewis to account.

The chief constable has brought some welcome stability and leadership to the force, while he has recently been handed a contract extension in recognition of his efforts.

Mr Turner added: “The PCC has to liase with the public, formulate a plan and oversee the implementation of the plan and hold those responsible for delivering it.

“We haven’t done that. I believe the qualities needed to do that job are the ability to talk to Mavis and Betty in the street, while also meeting the Home Secretary and pitching in front of him for what we need, while also saying to the chief constable what do you need and when can you achieve it?

“It’s about holding the police to account and having the ability to do it.

“Would I be strong enough to sack the chief constable if I had to? Absolutely. But if you made the right decision in the first place, agreed the target, got the resources in place and if they fail, they should know themselves they have failed.

“Richard Lewis is held in high regard.

“Should he have been given a new contract so soon into the job? Maybe I wouldn’t agree with that. But do I believe in the long-term stability that delivers with rank and file officers? Yes I would agree with that.

“I would maybe have made it after 12 months rather than six or seven, but from what I hear it’s probably the right call and from my dealings with him and the people he has brought in, then if they implement their plans right it’s positive.

“You need political will and community will and that’s where I see the PCC role – not saying ‘I want these drug dealers lifted’, but instead I will support you, lobby the justice system, push for powers you need to do it.

“It’s the same with anti-social behaviour and I went back to Dormanstown, a great old place, and spoke to people and it’s the same place it was but with a shocking level of anti-social behaviour.’’

He added: “You used to see confidence in the communities to go to the police without fear or repercussion. I think now those criminals hold fear over residents.

“That bike tearing up the green? Well it’s in the shed at number seven and now they are too afraid to say that.

“I was at the police cadets and the phrase used about knife crime by a lad was ‘snitches get stitches’ and that’s coming from a 14-year-old.

“We have to protect the communities. It’s about the resources to clamp down, we have that, but we have to be in the community and get the message out there that a person who is a blight on the community won’t be tolerated.

“Get into the communities and get their support, the link is so important.’’

He concluded: “Policing in England is the best part of 200 years old and formed to deal with theft and violence… what’s changed? The bottom line is simple, only the circumstances have changed.

“It’s about faith and restoring the faith. Every officer I’ve met is proud to be a police officer, most hate working for Cleveland Police.

“In the communities there’s no faith in the force and that’s down the culture.’’

The election takes place on Thursday, May 7, with Dr Paul Williams the Labour candidate.