The new Chair of Cleveland Police Authority has stressed that ‘dealing with a huge financial challenge, continuing the drive against crime and anti-social behaviour--and preparing for the transition to Elected Police Commissioners--have to be our top priorities.’
Stuart Drummond, the Mayor of Hartlepool, was speaking after members of the Authority had elected him to take over the role following the resignation last week of Mr Peter Race.
Mr Drummond, who has served as Elected Mayor of Hartlepool since 2002, came onto the Police Authority in July last year and has been its Vice Chair since June this year. He says he is welcoming the challenge, but recognises that policing, in common with other public services, is facing tough times.
He explained “I would like to pay tribute to the sterling efforts of my predecessor Peter Race who showed enormous commitment throughout his period on the police authority—and especially as Chair during what was clearly a difficult period.
“I am clear that what we have to concentrate on now is dealing with the most difficult financial situation the Force and the Authority have ever faced. Against that background I am totally committed, as I know is the whole of the Authority, to doing everything humanly possible to protect front line services and maintain the drive to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
“As well as the financial challenge we are also heading towards a massive change in the way policing in this country is overseen with the election next November of Police and Crime Commissioners and the appointment of Police and Crime Panels.
“There is an enormous amount of work to do in preparing for the change and as an authority we need to ensure the smoothest possible handover in order to maintain the quality of policing in the area.
“I hope that the experience I have gained during my time on the police authority—and, of course, during almost a decade as elected Mayor—will stand me in good stead and I look forward to working with my fellow authority members and staff, coupled with the senior force management team, in building on the very real process achieved in recent years.”