Two killed in Teesside crash
Two people have been killed and a man is critical in hospital after a three-vehicle collision in Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough
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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MP reacts to Cleveland Police compensation payout
James Wharton MP has called for Cleveland Police to 'move forward and regain public trust.' The Stockton South MP was speaking after it emerged the force was being made to pay over £500,000 in compensation to a Middlesbrough solicitor.
James Watson was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and detained in a police station for 29 hours in June 2009.
He was never charged with any offence and the investigation failed to find evidence against him.
Teesside solicitor wins police compensation
Cleveland Police has agreed to pay £550,000 in damages to a leading Teesside solicitor who was wrongly imprisoned.
James Watson was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and detained in a police station for 29 hours in June 2009.
He was never charged with any offence and the investigation failed to find evidence against him.
The force admits falsely imprisoning Mr Watson and his family when the lawyer was arrested.
Cleveland Police launched their investigation into Mr Watson after their case against one of his clients collapsed.
Mr Watson was suspected of being part of a conspiracy to make witnesses change their story.
An IPCC investigation report is highly critical of the way Cleveland Police investigated Mr Watson and of the conduct of the officer in charge, Chief Inspector Anthony Riordan.
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IPCC statement
The body that oversees complaints made against the police has released this statement after Cleveland Police were made to pay £550,000 to a solicitor who was wrongly imprisoned.
– Independent Police Complaints Commission"The IPCC managed an investigation into complaints against Cleveland Police in relation to a long running police investigation into the kidnap of a businessman. The IPCC investigation upheld some of the complaints, particularly around basic investigative failures. Recommendations were made around dealing with these failures and also around internal issues within the force, including processes around the consideration of suspension of officers. The IPCC is now managing a further investigation into new complaints made on behalf of the original complainant."
Cleveland Police statement
Cleveland Police's Chief Constable Jacqui Cheer made this statement after the force was told to pay £550,000 compensation to a Middlesbrough solicitor who was wrongly imprisoned.
– Cleveland Police Chief Constable, Jacqui Cheer"In 2010 Cleveland Police received 6 complaints which were subject of a managed Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation. At the conclusion of the investigation 4 of these complaints were unsubstantiated, a fifth matter was a ‘statement of fact’ involving an officer from another Force and the sixth complaint is subject of the settlement with Mr. Watson.
One of the officers under investigation retired in October 2011, some 12 months after the start of the investigation."
– Cleveland Police Chief Constable, Jacqui Cheer"ACC White considered the suspension of this officer in October 2011 in accordance with the policy and practices of the Force and based solely upon the information and evidence presented to him by the investigation team.
Having fully considered the interim report of the IPCC investigator, and having consulted with specialist advisors as well as inviting submissions to the suspension review process from key parties ACC White decided that the conditions to justify suspension were not met."
– Cleveland Police Chief Constable, Jacqui CheerHaving fully considered the interim report of the IPCC investigator, and having consulted with specialist advisors as well as inviting submissions to the suspension review process from key parties ACC White decided that the conditions to justify suspension were not met.The IPCC report recommends that I debrief and discuss with ACC White the process for making this decision, with the benefit of hindsight, which I have done, and I fully support him.
I have accepted the recommendations within the report and have implemented changes.
Cleveland Police pay £500,000 in damages to solicitor
Cleveland Police have agreed to pay more than £500,000 in damages to a solicitor who was falsely imprisoned.
James Watson, a senior partner in the Middlesbrough law firm Watson Woodhouse, was wrongfully arrested in June 2009.
He was taken to Northallerton police station and held in a cell for nearly 30 hours.
Mr Watson's wife, Rita, and their two sons were held at the family home in Middlesbrough while the property was searched.
The law firm's offices were also searched, and boxes of sensitive documents seized.
Cleveland Police began the investigation after a trial involving one of Mr Watson's clients collapsed. The defence lawyer was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Mr Watson was never charged with any offence, and the investigation into him was eventually dropped.
Police Cadets on Teesside welcome Chernobyl hero
Police Cadets from the Cleveland force area have met with a former firefighter who took part in the clean up operation after the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine in 1986.
Vitali Baranovski was invited to the UK by the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline Charity as part of the European Chernobyl Action Weeks.
Mr Baranovski spoke about the effect the disaster had on the community and surrounding areas.
More than a million risked their lives to clean up highly contaminated areas and prevent worldwide nuclear contamination.
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Woman's body found in River Tees
A woman's body has been found in the River Tees.
Police said the body was found earlier today.
Formal identification has not yet taken place.
Making hoax 999 calls 'won't boost battery life' say Police
Cleveland Police claim lives are being put at risk after a spate of 999 hoax calls.
Officers say there is a false belief circulating that ringing the emergency number then hanging up, can boost the battery life of a mobile phone.
It follows a spate of incidents in the force area in recent weeks.
PCC confirms a move from Police HQ still being considered
At the launch of the new Police and Crime Plan for Cleveland, the PCC admitted the force faces challenging times with cuts to the budget and said he believed moving from the current headquarters to a cheaper alternative will go towards those savings.
In the year 2015-2016, savings of almost £5m have to be found.
Barry Coppinger is keen to move from the force's current HQ on Ladgate Lane in Middlesbrough as it is too expensive to run. The land would be sold for development.
Mr Coppinger said he is awaiting the findings of a report, due to be handed to him in the next few weeks, before making a final decision.
Police and Crime Commissioner: Protecting neighbourhoods is a priority
Despite facing budget cuts, Mr Coppinger told ITV News that protecting neighbourhoods remains a priority and he hopes to recruit more special constables.
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