Cleveland Police’s PEEL inspection shows significant improvements

Cleveland Police’s marked improvement in the way it treats the public, prevents and deters crime, manages offenders and suspects and supporting its workforce has been recognised by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS).  

This improvement is detailed in the publication of the Police, Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) Inspection Report by HMICFRS.

HMICFRS assessed Cleveland Police across nine areas of policing, providing graded judgement for eight areas.

The gradings published today, 10 April 2025, assess the force as “Good” in four areas, “Adequate” in two areas and “Requires Improvement” in two.

Cleveland Police is now rated as Good in the following assessed areas of policing:

• Police powers and treating the public fairly and respectfully
• Preventing and deterring crime and anti-social behaviour and reducing vulnerability
• Managing offenders and suspects and
• Building, supporting and protecting the workforce

Cleveland Police is now rated as Adequate in the following assessed areas of policing:

• Responding to the public
• Leadership and force management

Cleveland Police is now rated as Requires Improvement in the following assessed areas of policing:

• Investigating Crime
• Protecting Vulnerable People

Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, Mark Webster said: “I very much welcome the publication of this positive report which demonstrates the significant work staff, officers and volunteers have done to see these improvements be realised in force.

“I am pleased the force has been recognised for the progress we have made and we are now one of the top performing forces in England and Wales and compared to other forces have seen some of the most significant improvements and substantial changes to the HMICFRS PEEL assessment grades.

“To have four areas of policing assessed as “Good” truly demonstrates the positive journey the force has been on over the last few years, and I hope this provides reassurance to the people of Teesside. 

“We still need to see further improvement in the way we investigate crime and protect vulnerable people; both of which are areas of policing that are very important to Cleveland Police and we are striving hard to continue seeing progress.  What we know is improvements need to be continuous and sustained and this can take time but we are confident that we are heading in the right direction in both these areas of policing. The vast majority of policing faces a similar challenge; we’re not unique so we are sharing ideas and working collaboratively to see further improvements.

“The improved picture for Cleveland Police in the inspection report comes at a time when we’re also seeing significant reduction in crime compared to the previous 12 months. These reductions, many of which are significantly better than the England and Wales average, are due to the force’s focus on being more proactive and delivering better policing more broadly.

“We hope that the publication of the force’s assessment provides confidence that we are working hard to protect the people and communities of Teesside.  To maintain the status of being a well-performing force we will continue to need the support of residents, partner agencies, stakeholders and elected officials – support which we are grateful to receive.

“Since I arrived at Cleveland Police in 2022 I have been impressed by the hardworking officers, staff and volunteers who strive to make a difference in their various and varied roles right across the force. The results of today’s PEEL inspection is one reason I feel able to retire in July this year, as planned, as the force is now in an excellent place as it prepares for its next chapter on the journey.  I know the 2500-strong workforce will build on this performance and continue their hard work, that got us to this point, to see further improvements to support the people we serve.”