Cleveland PEEL 2014

Cleveland Police has a good understanding of demand and has used this to reshape the way it provides policing. It is working innovatively to improve further its overall understanding of demand by incorporating information from partners. This will enable it to identify and include greater efficiencies in the way it uses resources. Cleveland is set to lose proportionately more police officers than other forces, but the proportion working on the front line has increased. Over the spending review the force has reduced crime, although crime levels remain higher than elsewhere. Both crime and detection rates are higher than the figures for England and Wales.

The force already has a strong track record of achieving planned savings. Cleveland Police was set a tough financial challenge. A strong vision and effective leadership has enabled it to achieve the bulk of the savings requirement and there are clear plans in place to achieve the balance in 2014/15. The force is developing outline savings plans that extend beyond 2016. Successful partnering and collaboration with other organisations continue to play a vital role in these plans.

The force makes good use of working with others to achieve better value for money. Collaboration with other forces and the private sector is well established in Cleveland and has contributed considerably to its savings. It has achieved considerable savings, and will continue to do so. The force has made good overall progress in implementing its change programme. The new structure for policing has enabled it to function with considerably fewer officers and staff. The changes have taken place with minimal impact on the service to the public.

There is a clear future vision involving partnership working and information technology-enabled change. This will help Cleveland to provide an affordable, effective and sustainable resource model.