A total of 28 additional Cleveland Police officers will join neighbourhood policing teams from next week.

This is the second round of intake, the first being around 32 officers, bringing the total to 60.

There are plans for an additional 240 neighbourhood officers, including Police Community Support Officers, by summer 2020, delivering community policing to Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool.

Officers joining are being given additional bespoke training in neighbourhood policing.

Cleveland Police have been allocated 72 additional officers in year one of the uplift, and have taken on 100 new recruits between November 2019 and March 2020.

Chief Superintendent Thom McLoughlin, who is leading the new neighbourhood changes, said: “We have such tight-knit communities in Cleveland and local people really understand the value of neighbourhood policing and police officers keeping an ear to tehe ground.

“Being in neighbourhoods is only successful if you know and understand the streets and areas that you police, because when we all work together we can really make a difference to people’s lives.

“We have some fantastic officers joining teams, who really care passionately about listening to communities, solving problems, and tackling crime.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger said: “I’ve had a long-standing commitment to strengthening neighbourhood policing in Cleveland and the desire to see more officers engaging with communities is consistent key theme in the feedback I receive from residents.

“It’s a testament to the commitment of the Force’s leadership that despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 crisis, their plans to reinvigorate this area of policing have been unaffected and will continue.

PCC Coppinger has asked the Chief Constable Richard Lewis to “review and remodel” how neighbourhood policing is delivered. The force said CC Lewis has made a commitment to neighbour policing and bolster resources for intelligence gathering, crime prevention and problem solving.

“Through my scrutiny processes and by continuing to listen to the needs of our communities, I will monitor whether these extra neighbourhood resources result in a greater focus on prevention and problem-solving.”

Last year, Cleveland Police embarked on a public survey, Our Conversation, to understand the views of people living in the local area. The force said the responses will be used to help develop neighbourhood policing going forward.

The survey received 4,736 responses, and are available on the Cleveland Police website. Burglary was identified by respondents as the top priority, with drug dealing being the second.