Cleveland Police chief sets out his vision for the future

Mark Webster has only been in the job since the beginning of the month but has already recognised the scale of the situation at Cleveland Police after the force employs its seventh chief in a decade.

After swapping the deputy’s chair at Cumbria Police for the hotseat of Cleveland, the vastly experienced officer is focussing on the future of the force and restoring public confidence.

He said: “I know the force has had its problems, I’m not naïve enough to say otherwise, but there are some really good people here.

“I spent the first week going around to see as many of them as I could – there are some people who are working incredibly hard.”

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Mr Webster worked for Greater Manchester Police for 14 years before working for the National Crime Agency (NCA) for 11 years before spending four years in Cumbria.

Chief Constable Mark Webster in his Cumbria Police days

He believes that his experience of working in different arenas will help him to continue to the progress the force has made since it was placed in ‘special measures’ following damning report after a significant number of failings had been identified by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

From left, PCC Steve Turner, incoming Chief Constable Mark Webster and Cllr Tony Riordan

Looking at some of the problems the force is facing, he added: “You can have rural areas that can feel forgotten about and there is a lot of violent crime – city type crime – and what I get from the NCA is that I spent a lot of time dealing with organised criminal gangs - any force like this will have those issues.

“After talking to people last week, I’m making sure that they have got a really clear idea of what I want them to do – a really clear mission for them.

“The force has had a difficult history, it has also made progress but I think we need to tune people into the clearest, simplest most straightforward mission we can.

“I told them we are here to protect people, protect communities, to tackle criminals and whilst we are doing that, to be the best force we can possibly be.”

The force has been beset by a series of scandals, including it becoming the first to be officially rated as failing in all areas in 2019.

Former chief constable Sean Price was sacked for gross misconduct in 2012. Separately, officers were under investigation after journalists' phones were unlawfully monitored, and there had been long-standing claims of racism within the ranks.

The force has seen a number of chief constables amongst its ranks since Sean Price was sacked in 2012.

He was replaced by Jacqui Cheers, who left in 2016; then it was Iain Spittal for two years; Mike Veale was in charge from 2018 to 2019; with Lee Freeman temporarily filling the void when Mr Veale suddenly left.

Last six chief constables of Cleveland Police

And the last one out of the door was Richard Lewis who quit last year to take over at Dyfed-Powys Police Force in Wales.

Mr Webster said: “What I say to people in the force is ‘you have got to look forward’ – yes we are conscience of what happened in the past but we have got to look forward, to move it forward.

“Nothing is going to happen overnight but I want to make sure that I can improve the force and get it to where it needs to be so the public have confidence and the officers have pride in their job.

“I don’t think you can come here for a short period and make impact; that’s not what I’m about; I’m not going to turn up for 18 months and then disappear, I want to get the job done.”

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