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Cleveland Police Chief dismissal: Full statement
The Chief Constable of Cleveland Police has released a statement about the dismissal of Deputy Chief Constable Derek Bonnard.
IPCC statement on Cleveland Police complaint
The police watchdog have released a statement after a complaint was upheld against Cleveland Police.
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Full Report: Former Police Authority chief found guilty
The man who was once in charge of managing Cleveland police has been found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
A jury decided Dave McLuckie did transfer speeding points to a friend so that his career at the police authority would not be jeopardised.
He has now been told that he can expect to go to jail.
You can watch the full report from Dan Ashby below.
McLuckie will resign from councillor role
Former chief of Cleveland Police authority Dave McLuckie says he will resign from his role as councillor for Skelton.
McLuckie was found guilty of perverting the course of justice at Newcastle Crown Court on June 18.
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Cleveland MP: "No one is above the law"
The MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Tom Blenkinsop, has released the following statement in response to today’s guilty verdict for Dave McLuckie for perverting the course of justice.
– Tom Blenkinsop MP“No one is above the law, and that applies to every elected politician and public servant.
"The Labour Party should not - and will not - tolerate this type of illegal behaviour.
“With a jury finding Cllr McLuckie guilty of an extremely serious offence and the Judge warning he faces a likely prison sentence, I am repeating my previous calls for him to resign as a Skelton ward councillor.
"He must do this as a matter of urgency."
Former Police Authority Chief found guilty
A former police authority chairman was convicted today of persuading a friend to take penalty points for him so he could avoid a driving ban and further his career.
Dave McLuckie, who was Cleveland Police Authority chairman at the time, was convicted of perverting the course of justice following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court.
In 2005, when McLuckie was still vice-chairman of Cleveland Police Authority and about to take on the senior role, he asked family friend Maurice Ward to take three penalty points for him after his black Peugeot was caught by a speed camera doing 36mph in a 30mph zone at Carlin How.
McLuckie, a member of Redcar and Cleveland Council who works at a potash mine, already had nine points on his licence and was facing a ban after the latest offence.
Instead, he visited his friend who lived nearby in Skelton and asked him for a "big favour" and to take the blame, the jury was told.
The allegation came to light after Mr Ward fell out with McLuckie when he became sick with cancer and felt his former friend had not visited him enough.
Mr Ward, who died in January last year, wrote a note saying he had taken the points for the authority chairman.
After his death, Mr Ward's daughter Donna contacted a councillor who took the matter to the police and McLuckie, from Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, was arrested.
He denied perverting the course of justice but was convicted after a week-long trial.
During the trial, McLuckie claimed the speeding points allegation was driven by malice.
He accepted he might have been driving the car, but said he had discussed the matter with Mr Ward and they had agreed his friend had been driving the car at the time.
McLuckie guilty of perverting the course of justice
The former chairman of Cleveland Police has been found guilty of perverting the course of justice by persuading a friend to accept speeding points for him.
Dave McLuckie stood motionless in the dock as the jury returned its verdict.
The judge told him he can expect a prison sentence.
Former police chief found guilty in court
Former chairman of Cleveland Police Dave McLuckie has been found guilty of perverting the course of justice by transferring speeding points
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More than 300 criminal cases to be reviewed by IPCC
More than 300 criminal cases in Cleveland and Staffordshire that were potentially botched by a scenes of crime officer, accused of lying about his qualifications, are being reviewed by the police watchdog.
Stephen Beattie, 49, first came under scrutiny in 2011 for his work.
Gregg Easteal was live outside Cleveland Police headquarters earlier today:
A dedicated phone line has been set up by Cleveland Police for anyone with concerns to leave a message for the investigation team.
That number is 01642 301677.
Crime Scene officer's work reviewed by police watchdog
Of the suspicious deaths, 90 cases have been reviewed so far and investigators found eight that could have been tainted.
Sixteen of the arson cases are now with the Crown Prosecution Service to consider possible charges or review.
Stephen Beattie, 49, who worked for Cleveland Police from 2002 to 2011, was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in May 2011 and remains on bail.
He was suspended from duty by Cleveland Police in February 2011 and resigned in October 2011.
He faces allegations that he potentially undermined investigations with substandard work, and claims that he lied about his qualifications when involved in arson cases.
Cleveland is now reviewing all 3,308 exhibits handled by him and has classed 480 as causing the highest level of concern.
Police statement after IPCC review crime scene officer's work
– Detective Inspector Warren Shepheard from Cleveland Police’s investigation."Clearly this is a complex investigation, which has involved a significant number of cases which have had to be examined in detail.
"We are methodically working our way through this and we are making progress. We have contacted everyone affected by this investigation to explain the situation to them and we continue to provide specialist support from Family Liaison Officers.
"We understand however that other people may have concerns and we have a dedicated phone line for callers to leave a message for the investigation team.
"That number is 01642 301677.”
Police watchdog review crime scene officer's work
More than 300 criminal cases in Cleveland and Staffordshire that were potentially botched by a scenes of crime officer accused of lying about his qualifications are being reviewed by the police watchdog.
Stephen Beattie, 49, first came under scrutiny in 2011 for his work for Cleveland and Staffordshire police and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has now revealed that 355 of his cases are being looked at again.
In August last year it said that 90 cases involving suspicious deaths were being re-examined, but this has risen to 141. Another 214 arson investigations are also being reviewed.
– IPCC Commissioner Cindy Butts"This remains a complex investigation covering a period of 15 years and a significant number of cases.
"The examination of those cases is ongoing but is a huge task and will take several more months.
"The most significant cases have been prioritised and any additional work identified has been acted on immediately. Cleveland Police have ensured that families affected by these cases have been kept informed."
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