Police officers are praised for bravery

FRONTLINE officers have been praised for their bravery and efforts during the Stockton and Darlington Railway bicentenary as a town centre crime-fighting project marks its first six months.

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT

Supt Alan O'Donoghue, district commander for Stockton, Cleveland Police

Operation Shield, which aims to improve safety and the public’s perception of safety in Stockton town centre, has been running since February. A Safer Stockton Partnership meeting heard things were “moving in the right direction” but “we aren’t where we want to be”.

Adam Bateman, problem solving and partnerships officer for Stockton Council, said: “Frontline staff including our civic enforcement officers, police officers, support and recovery partners working on this project such as A Way Out and CGL (Change Grow Live) and Recovery Connections have to be quite brave to do what they do. They put themselves out there in harm’s way and are often criticised for their quick or difficult decision making.

“But the truth is they are brave and they have to be to do what is right for Stockton town centre to make this operation a success.”