Cleveland Police Authority will be meeting in the near future to appoint a new Chairman, following the resignation of current Chairman, Peter Race MBE.
Mr Race, Chairman since May 2011, informed the Authority of his decision to step down from the post and the Authority yesterday. The resignation takes place with immediate effect.
Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond is currently the Authority’s Vice Chairman and he will assume the position of Chairman until a new Chairman can be formally appointed by Members of the Authority. A date has yet to be fixed for this.
Stuart Pudney, Chief Executive of Cleveland Police Authority said “Peter has been a member of the Authority since 2004 and assumed the responsibilities of Chairman in May 2011. It is very important that the Authority meet at the earliest possible opportunity to appoint a new Chairman and I shall be consulting members to begin to take arrangements forward.
“On behalf of the Authority I would like to thank Peter for his work as a Member of the Authority. It is not for me to comment on the reasons for Peter’s decision but he has agreed to a copy of his letter being provided to members and the media.”
Vice Chairman Stuart Drummond said: “Peter stepped up into the position of Chairman in May under very difficult circumstances and the last few months have been very demanding. His leadership has been key to bringing stability to the organisation and dealing with the many challenges that face Cleveland Police, in particular the struggle to balance the budget whilst at the same time maintaining front-line services. The knowledge, experience and wisdom that Peter brought the Authority will be missed greatly, however I am committed to take the Authority forward and ensuring that the standard of policing in Cleveland is maintained at the very highest level.”
Issued by: Stuart Pudney, Chief Executive, Cleveland Police Authority
Please note that interviews are not being provided at this time.
Letter to Stuart Pudney, Chief Executive
Dear Stuart,
I welcome your appointment as Chief Executive of Cleveland Police Authority. I have every confidence that you will support members in holding the force to account for the delivery of policing services, at a time of severe budget reductions, while also delivering the necessary programme of work to ensure that the Authority hands over its governance responsibilities to a new Police and Crime Commissioner in November next year.
Following a recent meeting between the Authority, HMIC and the Head of Operation Sacristy, I have become aware of what could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest for me if I were to continue in my role as Chair or a Member of CPA.
Therefore I have decided that I should stand down from the Authority with immediate effect.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Race MBE
Chairman, Cleveland Police Authority