Time for an investigation

Last week’s exclusive report, exposing further concerns about what was going on at Cleveland Police during the reign of Sean Price as chief constable, is a good example.

Just to recap, Friday’s Northern Echo, right, revealed how an historic claim of sexual abuse against the then police authority chairman Dave McLuckie in 2006 was never registered as a potential crime by Mr Price.

A report obtained by The Northern Echo, following a meeting of senior officers eight years later, claims proper procedures were not followed and there was an attempt to discredit the alleged victim.

The report in our possession goes on to allege that Mr Price was given a lucrative “golden handcuffs” deal after key legal advice – suggesting the bonus package would not be legal – was withheld from police authority members.

Mr Price was sacked for gross misconduct in 2012 after he was found to have lied about his role in the recruitment of Mr McLuckie’s daughter.

Mr McLuckie was subsequently jailed for perverting the course of justice over a speeding fine, so it is a period in Cleveland Police’s history which is already well and truly tainted.

It should be stressed that Mr McLuckie vehemently denies the claim of historic sex abuse which is alleged to have taken place when he was 14. Mr Price also denies any wrongdoing.

Nevertheless, our report on Friday raises further important questions which needed to be brought to the surface.

They have finally been placed in the public domain by The Northern Echo, through the admirably dogged work of reporters Joe Willis and Graeme Hetherington.

It took a year to reach the point at which we were able to publish the results of their investigation.

That kind of journalism takes time but I hope there will always be a place for it in the fast-changing world of local news.

AFTER concentrating so hard on getting to the truth about Cleveland Police, it was hard to escape the irony of an angry call to the newsdesk on Friday morning.

A man came on to fume: “Look, I’ve been through your paper twice and there’s no sign of an April Fool joke. Why the hell not?”

I’m sure my successor won’t be guilty of such a foolish oversight next year.

THE presentation of the High Sheriff Awards at Durham Castle is one of my favourite events of the year.

Not only is it steeped in history, and set in magnificent surroundings, it also all about shining a positive spotlight on young people.

Several community groups, supporting young people, were presented with awards by this year’s High Sheriff of Durham, James Fenwick, at the event organised by County Durham Community Foundation and backed by the Sir James Knott Trust.

Over 21 years, the community foundation has given out grants totalling £29,683,754 to 7,960 local projects and 3,849 individuals. The £30m milestone is fast approaching and that will be a real cause for celebration.

In the meantime, the full roll of honour from the High Sheriff’s awards was published in The Northern Echo on Thursday and, to give an example of the kind of youngsters amongst the honours, let me tell you about Lexi Cleasby, Charlotte Bulleyment and Lucy Mann who were on my table.

They were representing St John’s Youthy in Shildon which won a High Sheriff’s Award for running a number of community initiatives over the past year.

One of those initiatives involved Shildon youngsters going round the homes of elderly residents to sing carols and deliver gift baskets, containing bottles of wine and boxes of sweets.

“The image of Shildon suffers from a tiny minority but the truth is that it is has an amazing community spirit,” Lucy told me, with clear passion.

“We just try to give to the community and they give back to us by attending meetings and helping us to raise money for all kinds of good causes.

“Shildon is a place where people really do come together to make things better.”

Well done – and thanks – to all the winners.

AS I’ve said many times in this column, one letter can make all the difference.

A primary school, identified only at St Mary’s on Twitter, has learned a harsh lesson after sending out the text below to parents...

AND, not far behind St Mary’s in the contest for the best Easter howler, was the printer responsible for the banners at Acomb Parish Church in York.

I’m sure Chris’s resurrection is a cause for great celebration but I suspect he’s a fair way down the pecking order.