FURTHER to The Northern Echo’s front page article (January 6) ‘A guilty plea’ about Cleveland Police’s illegal use of snooping laws to spy on journalists, many will be reassured that following a apology from Chief Constable Iain Spittal and the Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger that the force professional standards department will be scrapped.
This is the department that unlawfully approved the tapping of journalists and police officers phone calls.
There will be many who will be thinking this is part of a long list of wrongdoings associated with Cleveland Police.
The new Chief Constable is correct that he is dealing with past historical cases and these need to be dealt with expeditiously.
The Police Commissioner was seen on local TV highlighting the role that scrutiny has on the force.
However, scrutiny committees must have teeth and be able to recommend changes that will be enforced.
If they only pay lip service, then toothless tigers are usually exposed.
I wish the new Chief Constable well, as we can all hear the jungle drums for Cleveland Police to be wound up.
George Dunning, Ormesby
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