A Tory police and crime commissioner has stood by his controversial claim that potential strikes from nurses over better pay would be ‘criminal’.

Cleveland’s Steve Turner previously said a strike among NHS staff could put lives at risk and pile further pressure onto other emergency services – and labelled the prospect of industrial action criminal.

The union which represents close to half a million nurses is expected to announce its first UK-wide strike action in its 106-year history, it was reported on Wednesday.

More than 300,000 members were urged by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) to vote for strike action in the union’s biggest strike ballot – the results of which will be released on Wednesday.

The Northern Echo: The union which represents close to half a million nurses is expected to announce its first UK-wide strike action in its 106-year history - and could affect services in the North East The union which represents close to half a million nurses is expected to announce its first UK-wide strike action in its 106-year history - and could affect services in the North East (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Read more: North East nurses expected to stage mass walk out as Government respond

Mr Turner faced criticism for his comments but when approached on Wednesday he did not retract his statement. He told the BBC’s Politics North programme: “Strikes like this are criminal [because of] the pressure they put on other services.

“From a policing perspective, if there isn’t an ambulance or [people] can’t get hold of a healthcare professional while [nurses] are striking, they’re going to pick up the phone and ring a police officer.

“What I’m saying is you’re putting people’s lives at risk and you’re putting other people under pressure by taking this action.”

The Northern Echo: Cleveland PCC Steve Turner appeared on Politics North, where he aired his controversial claims Cleveland PCC Steve Turner appeared on Politics North, where he aired his controversial claims (Image: BBC)

Yet despite the concerns, unions have reassured patients that emergency care will be protected during any industrial action taken by any of the unions.

The PCC was previously subject to several complaints over his alleged conduct which were referred to the independent police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

But none of the complaints were substantiated with the IPCC taking no further action and Mr Turner hitting out at a politically motivated “witch hunt” he said he had been subjected to.

However, the Cleveland PCC admitted last year that a past police caution he received was for handling £15 worth of stolen goods.

Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough, responded to Mr Turner’s claim by tweeting: “NHS staff standing up for themselves to demand a fair wage that they can live on is not a criminal act.

“Handling stolen goods is a criminal act.”

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