Hidden amidst the 'aren't the Tories awful' smokesreen lurks a concentratation of resources, particularly at senior level, around the Middlesbrough/Stockton partnership and away from Hartlepool - yet another step which diminishes the town's standalone status.
Add the possibility that any future 'restructuring' could result in a merger between Hartlepool and Stockton police districts. Should this happen Stockton's higher crime rate would almost inevitably result in resources being directed away from Hartlepool.
If the normal process is followed, the police station will be closed and a minor crime unit opened in some tarted up shop ... all major crime wil be dealt with in Stockton ....I really shouldn't joke.
Mind you,if we ever get a Teesside wide authority, we'll be so far out on the edge our police service will be the North West mounted police.
I gather the crime figures in Stockton are higher than in Hartlepool - this is the logic of the Teesside City 'Vision' - we are all entitled to have the same level of crime so resources will move to Stockton and Hartlepool's crime figures wil be allowed to equalise with Stockton.
Are some of them 'volunteering' via their conduct ?
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10182725.Police_ordered_to_re_investigate_case_of_wrongful_arrest_by_IPCC/?ref=rss