Ahead of the elections for Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner on May 6, Local Democracy Reporter Alex Metcalfe profiles the four candidates vying for votes.

Barrie Cooper (Independent)

FORMER policeman Barrie Cooper was a late entrant to the PCC race. 

After 30 years at the force, the 68-year-old spent 14 years working with the out-of-hours doctor’s service overseeing 200 drivers. 

Teesside politics beckoned in 2019 as Cllr Cooper was elected to the Newport ward on Middlesbrough Council alongside a raft of other independents. 

Cllr Cooper started off as a foot-beat officer before driving Panda cars, entering CID, and carrying out a spell with the force’s special operations unit. 

The independent has referred to his experience on the front line in his pitch to become the next commissioner – and said a “sit down” with the Chief Constable was high on his list of priorities if elected.

Preventing crime, reopening front desks for “face-to-face interaction” and changes to uniforms are among some of his pledges. And, again, pride and “restoring faith” in the force have been among his messages. 

Cllr Cooper added: “If all those people know they can pick up a phone and ring their police to get the service they need, in a time of need, that’s a lot better than people saying they can’t be bothered to ring. We need a positive attitude and pride in our force. If I can get that, I’ll be a happy man.”

Cllr Cooper stepped down from his executive role in charge of education and skills role the council in 2020 to “devote more time to his ward”. 

Cllr Barrie Cooper, independent candidate to be Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, ward member for Newport. Credit: Middlesbrough Council. Attribution required. Free for use by all BBC wire partners

Cllr Barrie Cooper, independent candidate to be Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner

He had previously stepped back from member for children’s services in the wake of a critical Ofsted judgement of the department.

When it came to policing, Cllr Cooper has revealed he wants to fund eight electric pedal cycles split across Cleveland’s four local council areas for officers. 

He has also pledged to be “tough on gang culture and drugs”, to reduce violent crime,  and has also backed the use of modern technology in policing.

Meanwhile, volunteers “on patrol”, support for the “Green Cross Code” and protecting green spaces are also part of his campaign. 

Chris Jones (Lib Dem)

LIBERAL Democrat Chris Jones is also vying to become Cleveland’s next commissioner after clocking up experience on the police and crime panel. 

Cllr Jones has spent more than 18 years as a manager at a large social housing company on Teesside – and says he’s managed large teams and large budgets. 

Elected to Redcar and Cleveland’s West Dyke ward in 2015, Cllr Jones says he understands policing procedures and the role of the commissioner from his time on the police and crime panel. 

He added: “I have always tried to challenge policies and hold those responsible to account, so I am well aware of what needs to be done to improve policing in our area to take the force forward. Our police force needs sufficient resources to tackle crime successfully and, as PCC, I would work to ensure these resources were used effectively.”

Councillor Chris Jones, who represents the West Dyke ward on Redcar and Cleveland Council and is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner. Picture/credit: Chris Jones. Free for use for all LDRS partners.

Councillor Chris Jones, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner

Removing barriers and bureaucracy for victims is also an aim of the Liberal Democrat candidate. 

“When crime touches your life, it can be scary and frustrating,” added Cllr Jones. “It is often complicated, full of red tape and can leave families devastated. I want to change that and provide a service that properly protects everyone.”

He also pointed to his scrutiny role in helping to bring “effective changes” to the force – such as the introduction of a vulnerability desk to the 101 service to help vulnerable adults and children. 

And the word pride came up once again. 

Cllr Jones added: “I have seen what can happen, when challenges are looked at with fresh eyes. As commissioner, I could do much more.

“One of my key priorities would be to establish a strong, professional, open and transparent relationship with Chief Constable (Richard) Lewis. 

“Building on the improvements he has already made, I would develop a robust, achievable, evidence-based plan to turn Cleveland Police into a force we can not only rely on, but of which we can be proud.”

Matt Storey (Labour)

FORMER Stockton South MP Paul Williams was the original Labour candidate lined up for the role, but he was selected to fight the ongoing Hartlepool parliamentary by-election. 

In his place comes Middlesbrough Council Labour group leader Matt Storey, who works for Andy McDonald MP. Born and raised in Fairfield, Cllr Storey is the eldest of three brothers and the son of two primary school teachers. 

He attended St Patrick’s RC Primary School and Our Lady and St Bede secondary school in the town before gaining A-Levels at Stockton Sixth Form College. 

Leeds University beckoned where he gathered a political studies degree before returning to Stockton for a job at Safeway, in Ingleby Barwick. 

He was then employed by the party in the 2005 election campaign for Dari Taylor and appointed as a researcher after the Labour victory in Thornaby. 

From Thornaby, Cllr Storey then moved on to work at Middlesbrough Council for the Labour group and became the parliamentary office manager for Mr McDonald in 2012. 

A seat on the council came in 2016 in the town’s central ward. 

Cllr Matt Storey, Labour councillor for Central Ward Image by Middlesbrough Council. Credit Middlesbrough Council. Permission for use by all BBC partners

Cllr Matt Storey, Labour

He and his team have pointed to the “close relationships” he’s had with the local police commander and anti-social behaviour teams, CCTV installations, and work on highlighting drug dealing. Cllr Storey has also sat on the Cleveland Police and Crime Panel for the past two years.

A vocal voice in the council chamber and nowadays, for as long as they last, in virtual meetings, Cllr Storey has regularly clashed with Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston while in his role as opposition leader which he took on in 2019. 

He says he has six key pledges – including a named community police officer in every ward, the creation of a violent crime reduction unit to deal with knife crime, and a vow to reopen police cells in Hartlepool.

Continued use of drones, a “top priority” focus on domestic violence against women and girls, and the creation of a “BAME advisory panel” to “foster greater community cohesion” are another three aims. 

“I know the challenges Cleveland Police faces are serious but I will not stand for complacency and I am confident that I can deliver a force we can all be proud of,” said Cllr Storey. 

The Labour candidate pointed to the loss of more than 500 officers and PCSOs seen upto 2019 while the Conservatives were in Government.

He added he wouldn’t “let the Government balance the books on the backs of key workers” such as police officers and staff. 

“I want to be Police and Crime Commissioner because I want to restore pride and trust in Cleveland Police,” added Cllr Storey.

“I know the challenges the force faces. 

“I’ve seen it from the inside and I also know that under my leadership, working with the Chief Constable, we can deliver a force that is excellent.

“It is the minimum local people should expect from their police.”

Steve Turner (Conservative)

LABOUR has had a tough time on Teesside in recent years – and Conservative Steve Turner is looking to extend his party’s string of gains in the region.

The former North-East chairman of UKIP defected to the Tories in 2017 saying the party had “lost its way”. 

He became UKIP’s first ever councillor in Redcar and Cleveland in the Longbeck ward in 2015. 

Labour commissioner Barry Coppinger oversaw a tumultuous time for Cleveland Police – with the 2019 probe by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, which found the force inadequate in all key areas, a low point. 

Mr Turner says he’s aiming to become Conservative commissioner after blaming eight years of “disastrous” Labour leadership for the force’s troubles. 

The 49-year-old said: “There’s absolutely no reason why Cleveland Police shouldn’t be achieving the same high standards as neighbouring police forces like Durham and North Yorkshire.

“But after eight years under Labour’s PCC, Barry Coppinger, Cleveland Police instead suffered a monumental decline in standards. 

“All Labour has to offer now is negativity, excuses and blame-shifting. More of the same. But it doesn’t have to be like this.”

Candidates have struck familiar tones in pledges if elected to be Cleveland’s next policing tsar.

Steve Turner Conservative Candidate For Cleveland Police And Crime Commissioner Steve Turner. Picture/credit: Steve Turner. Permission for use for all LDRS partners

Steve Turner, Conservative Candidate for Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner

Mr Turner has touted the use of extra drones, an app to record crime, and the introduction of DNA tagging spray in efforts to tackle off-road bikes and other crime. 

After signficant cuts to officer numbers since 2010 as part of Government-imposed austerity measures, continuing to bring officers back to the force is also part of the Conservative’s plan – with more patrolling officers on the streets. 

Mr Turner added: “We will tackle anti-social behaviour, prevent and reduce knife crime by increasing stop and search, and educating young people about the cost of violent crime. 

“I’ll be tough on drugs and gangs, arresting street dealers and sharing intelligence with neighbouring police forces.

“We will supercharge our use of technology to combat crime – tripling the number of drones and drone operators to support officers on the ground, and we’ll use sobriety and GPS tags to deter crime and track criminals.

“And most importantly, we will provide better support for the victims of crime giving them the support and facilities they need to help them recover and move past the impacts of crime.”

Returning pride to the force was another familiar theme on the back of the force’s recent struggles.

And Mr Turner put the blame on his political opponents. He added: “People need to feel safe on their own streets and we simply cannot allow Labour to once again lead our police force towards failure.”