Cleveland Police chief calls for more funding for 'selfless' force

Cleveland Police chief constable Victoria Fuller has applauded her "selfless" and "committed" force while emphasizing the pressing need for additional funding.

Two police officers, Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, tragically lost their lives last month in a vehicle collision on a dual carriageway in Middlesbrough, resulting in the deaths of five young men.

In an interview with the BBC, Fuller described the officers as "brave, committed, professional people who put the public before themselves."

Reflecting on the incident, she shared, "What Matty and Tom were doing that day was a routine part of their role, so I can’t sit here and say that anything would have prevented this from happening."

Cleveland Police covers an area with the highest crime rate in England and Wales, including Middlesbrough.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood recently announced an additional £2 million funding for the force to combat serious crime following several incidents, although Cleveland Police is facing a funding shortfall.

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey highlighted this shortfall as equivalent to about 40 full-time officers, stating the Government's funding "completely fails to deliver the resources required to meet the demand faced by Cleveland Police and falls far short of what is needed."

Fuller expressed her dedication to leading the force through challenging times and said, "Do you know what? I’ve got the best workforce. I’ve got the best workforce of the most selfless, committed people who do punch above their weight."

She acknowledged the community's law-abiding nature and its support for the police service, stating, "I just want to say thank you to the vast majority of people that live in our area, who are really good, law-abiding people, who care deeply about their communities, who care deeply for their police service, and who have really supported us through."

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