Town guards plan under microscope

SUGGESTIONS MDC PRESS RELEASE 'PRE-EMPTED' DECISION ON SCHEME

- By DANIEL HODGSON

THE launch process of Middlesbrough's “town guards” fell under a meeting's spotlight.

Tees Valley Conservative Mayor Ben Houchen announced the Middlesbrough Development Corporation’s “own police force” in a Radio Tees appearance last Wednesday.

An MDC press release announced the service the next day - a move branded by Middlesbrough Labour Mayor Chris Cooke as “premature” as he argued not all details on the scheme had been finalised.

At the recent meeting, Mayor Cooke also took issue with what he saw as the town being painted in a “negative” light in the correspondence.

At an MDC meeting on Friday, under new chair Tony Parkinson the former chief executive of Middlesbrough Council the guards scheme was brought up.

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey voiced frustration at the press release announcement, saying: “If we try to govern by press release we'll end up tying ourselves in knots.” Mayor Cooke, meanwhile said that the press release “preempted” a decision.