A SINGING police officer is using his musical talents to bring the community together – and has won an award for his efforts.

Neighbourhood police officer PC Jon Hutchinson has teamed up with pupils from Whale Hill Primary School, in Eston, near Middlesbrough, to entertain the community.


The popular officer, who joined Cleveland Police three years ago, is often seen singing on the beat around Teesville, which covers Normanby, Eston and Grangetown.

Speaking after entertaining the residents of Barnaby House, in Eston, PC Hutchinson said: “I love singing. I think it is really fantastic for the soul.

“It really helps bring everyone together.

“When I am out and about, I am always singing. At Christmas, I will get the people standing at bus stops singing while they wait.

It is a lot of fun.”

PC Hutchinson, who has just been voted the neighbourhood police officer of the year in the Redcar and Cleveland borough, said: “As a neighbourhood police officer, my priority is the community.

“We do investigate crime and lock up criminals, but our main aim is to reassure the community and I think we do that really well. I am now up against other officers at Cleveland Police before it hopefully gets to the national awards.

“It is all down to neighbourhood policing and keeping everyone happy.”

PC Hutchinson and the children at Whale Hill school, who have called their choir One Voice, recently performed in front of the Archbishop of York, the most reverend Dr John Sentamu.

Olwyn Peters, the deputy mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and a member of One Voice, said: “It is all about community cohesion and it is about getting it right and that is what we appear to be doing.

“We have started to do positive things and there is a niche in the community that has not been filled until now.

“I love practising with the choir, it makes my week.

“We believe we are doing a good job as it has strengthened links with the police force, not to mention the elderly.”