Controversy
In 2007 it was reported that Detective Constable Steve Pennington who was convicted of a drink driving offence in 2000, and subsequently jailed for four months, had been granted a £500,000 pay off by the force, garnering much criticism from members of the public and anti drink driving campaigns.
In April 2012, Cleveland Police admitted liability for “malicious prosecution” and were ordered to pay out over £841,000, one of the largest compensation sums in UK police history. The court was told former PC Sultan Alam was “stitched up” by fellow officers after he launched industrial tribunal proceedings in 1993, complaining of racial discrimination following a series of incidents that included a Ku Klux Klan poster being left on his desk. Cleveland Police admitted that officers suppressed evidence that lead to Mr Alam being wrongfully imprisoned for conspiracy to steal motor parts and enduring a 17 year battle to clear his name. Mr Alam, who is considering a position in public office, does not believe that the force had improved and stated that racism had gone "underground", with ethnic minorities being denied the same opportunities as their white colleagues.
In August 2012 it was reported that an unnamed officer from the force was on Police bail after being arrested on suspicion of carrying out 'substandard' work, potentially undermining 90 criminal cases and also perverting the court of justice. The Independent Police Complaints Commission is apparently investigating the claims.
In October 2012 the force's Chief Constable, Sean Price, was sacked after being found guilty of deceit and misconduct. He was dismissed from his £190,000 a year job (one of the highest rates in the country for a Chief Constable), having been suspended in August 2011 on full pay.
Read more about this topic: Cleveland Police
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