RESIDENTS are being encouraged to take part in an online chat with Cleveland’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

Barry Coppinger will log on between 6pm and 8pm on Thursday (February 28) to take questions from the public on his role and priorities.

The ‘Ask Your Commissioner’ session marks the start of a series of interactive web chats.

He said: “Throughout the commissioner elections, and since coming into office in November, I have been determined that I really will be the people’s representative in overseeing how policing is delivered in Cleveland and that means listening to the public.

“That was why I introduced the ‘Your Force, Your Voice initiative—the biggest public consultation exercise ever undertaken for Cleveland Police—which involves me meeting with people in every one of the force’s Neighbourhood Policing team areas.

“Using on-line communications is a natural extension of the initiative and hopefully will enable people who might not be able to get along to a public meeting to ask me questions and give me their views.”

Anyone wanting to put a question to the commissioner can follow the link on the front page of the PCC website http://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk