The political turmoil continues at Cleveland Police with calls for PCC to resign

Current incumbent, Conservative Steve Turner, has come under pressure to quit after it was revealed he accepted a police caution in relation to allegations of 'theft' while he was working for a supermarket in the late 90s.

Middlesbrough Labour MP Andy McDonald raised concerns about Mr Turner's suitability for the job when he used Parliamentary privilege to accuse him of theft from his employer and failing to disclose it when he was selected to stand in the PCC election.

Cleveland PCC Steve Turner

Mr Turner's predecessor, Barry Coppinger, occupied the position for almost eight years before quitting in September 2020 ahead of the rearranged election in May this year.

Throughout his tenure the Labour politician came under repeated attack from the opposition as the force lurched from one embarrassing disaster to another as it came under the spotlight for a catalogue of failings.

And while allegations of unlawful conduct were laid against Mr Coppinger last year, it was his judgement that was continually called into question as a number of chief constables came through the revolving door at force HQ.

Mr Coppinger was a leading member of Cleveland Police Authority (CPA), which was replaced by the elected PCC role, when disgraced former Chief Constable Sean Price was appointed and later sacked for gross misconduct.

Former Cleveland PCC Barry Coppinger

The former chairman of the CPA Dave McLuckie was jailed for eight months for perverting the course of justice in 2013.

McLuckie was found guilty of persuading his friend Maurice Ward to take three speeding points on his behalf to avoid being banned from driving in 2005.

During the trial it was revealed that as chairman of CPA he described himself as the ‘sheriff’ and referred to the force’s officers as his deputies.

Mr Price was sacked in 2012 for gross misconduct after being found guilty of lying about his role in the recruitment of Mr McLuckie's daughter, and of directing a member of staff to lie during investigations into the claim.

And it was Mr McLuckie’s arrest as part of Operation Sacristy, an investigation into alleged corruption at Cleveland Police, which resulted in him stepping down as CPA chairman.

Former CPA chairman Dave McLuckie with disgraced former Chief Constable Sean Price

Nobody was ever charged with a criminal offence following the 41-month long investigation and the multi-million probe resulted in no prosecutions when the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was not enough evidence of criminal activity.

Throughout, Mr Coppinger's tenure, his political rivals continually called for his resignation as he led the force through a number of scandals including hacking the phones of journalists and police officers, and allegations of racism.

Mr Coppinger eventually resigned from his post in September 2020 after the Chief Constable Richard Lewis called for an investigation into his conduct whilst in office.

Mr Lewis, who leaves the force soon, raised concerns about alleged unlawful and/or improper behaviour in connection with his deletion of WhatsApp messages and whether he breached Freedom of Information offences and data breaches.

Following an independent investigation, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) ruled that he has not committed a criminal offence.

Mr Lewis took over as Chief Constable of the scandal-hit force in 2019 after arriving from his native force in Wales where he was the deputy chief constable.

Earlier this month, Mr Turner denied that denied there was friction between himself and the force’s set-to-depart chief constable.

Chief Constable Richard Lewis

He was quizzed by members of the Cleveland Police and Crime Panel about Richard Lewis, who announced in July he was leaving for family reasons after a little more than two years in charge.

Mr Lewis has been confirmed as the new chief constable in Dyfed-Powys, Wales, but has agreed to stay on at Cleveland Police for another six months until a successor is found.

The troubled force is now looking for its seventh chief constable in a decade.

The PCC is responsible for appointing the chief constable, holding them to account, and can also dismiss them if deemed necessary.

However, could it also be looking for a new PCC if Mr Turner's political opponents get their wish. On Tuesday, he said: "My time as PCC is certainly not at an end. I am close to publishing my first Police and Crime Plan, which sets out ten key priorities to improve policing and community safety across Cleveland."