Hope, Action And Change for Redcar & Cleveland

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to do a bit of a personal post because the past couple of weeks have brought an enormous amount of sadness and hurt to Redcar & Cleveland and put a spot light on our area for all the wrong reasons. So I just wanted to say a few things to you all of what I’ve been thinking and feeling and most importantly doing the last couple of weeks.

We have mourned the loss of two brave Cleveland Police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, who went to work to serve and protect our community but never came home. We have also seen just a few days later the devastating house fire in Grangetown, in which two people, including a child, tragically lost their lives.

My thoughts remain with all the families, friends and colleagues affected by these terrible events. I want to again thank all the amazing first responders and all those who work to keep our communities safe and have done so recently while mourning one of their own. I’ve actually been out this morning to see Operarion Artemis run by Cleveland police and seen the professionalism and dedication of our officers to getting crime off our streets and making sure people can live in safety and decently.

I also want to thank all of you the community for how you have paid your respects and tributes and how you have supported the police in the last few weeks.

Since the incidents took place I have felt like many of you the same feelings of grief and of anger and frustration. And most importantly of determination. Determination to make sure this never happens again and that we build our way out of this together.

I’ve always believed we should be tough on crime, and tough on the causes of crime.

I’ve spent the days in the aftermath having those conversations with government - with the prime minister Andy Burnham, with the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud and the communities and local government secretary Angela Raynor about how we can rebuild our community so the areas around TS6 in particular where we have seen so many incidents and we know the challenges we face can be safe for our decent families who are just trying to live in peace and safety and bring up their children in a good place. I have been clear there can be no return to ‘normal’ or business as usual. This has to be a moment for change and as the PM has said, for hope.

I was pleased to see more than 300 additional police officers brought into the area with many still out on our streets, and all the Cleveland Labour MPs pushed hard for the extra £2milliom from government. We are also working on a longer-term plan to support Cleveland Police and make sure they have the resources and the capacity and structures they need to deal with the challenges we face.

But as I said we have to be tough on the causes of crime too. That means rebuilding our communities - bringing more jobs and opportunities, investing in the local community, bringing back the youth services and the health and wellbeing support, the play parks - everything that has been destroyed by cuts and austerity. It means working with all the brilliant local community groups and charities who do so much to help rebuild the social fabric of our communities and bring back hope and pride and positive opportunities for our young people in particular.

We were already working on this, with the £20million Pride in Place money that the community will get to spend on its priorities, plus I was delighted to confirm investment in two brand-new play parks for local families: one at Eston Rec and another in Bankfields.

I have had many conversations with families and children in both communities about what they would like to see. These investments are about giving children safe, clean and welcoming places to play, be active, make friends and thrive with positive mentalities.

But I had to make the case in the last few weeks for more urgency and more money, particularly for our young people. We know we have child poverty rates that are unacceptable. We know we have young people who are at risk of going down paths of antisocial behaviour and crime who need intervention and opportunities. That’s why I fought tooth and nail in the last two weeks to make sure we were secured a Young Futures Hub in Redcar and Cleveland which will be for 10 to 18-year-olds, and up to 25 for young people with SEND.

Joined-up support across mental health, employment and crime prevention will mean our young people will have a front door for the services they need. These services will be alongside access to sports, creative activities and trusted youth workers.

We have also been successful in securing a new mental health centre in Redcar and Cleveland too, helping people get support much sooner instead of waiting months when they are already struggling.

In the last week we have also fought and secured £4.8 million for Redcar & Cleveland Council to help with the services for adults and children including SEND, adult social care and children’s social care. We know we have a huge number of families who are struggling and so this money is about helping to support families who are at risk.

These things are all connected. Being tough on crime is not just about what happens after a crime has been committed. It is also about being tough on the causes of crime, giving young people opportunities and making sure people can get help before problems become a crisis.

There is still a huge amount more to do. I know that - especially on jobs and skills. But this is about starting to rebuild our communities and making sure Redcar & Cleveland gets its fair share.

I will keep fighting for every resident, in every part of our area, and taking your concerns right to the highest levels of Government.