'Racist Abuse Can't Be Tolerated'

12 May 2026

A Cleveland Chief Inspector says the force is committed to supporting officers who are racially abused or assaulted, admitting that it is a growing problem.

Chief Inspector Greg Owens is the force’s Lead for Operation Hampshire, which helps forces respond more effectively to assaults on police officers and staff. He is backing the Federation campaign, Protect The Protectors: Stop Racism Against Police.

He explained: “Op Hampshire covers abuse or assaults, whether it be physical, verbal, racially motivated public order offences, harassment, even criminal damage. It’s any and every offence, and includes race-based hate crime.”

In 2025, of 762 total offences against Cleveland Police officers and staff, 18 were marked as hate crimes – 17 of those included racial abuse and one involved homophobic abuse.

Ch Insp Owens said: “This can’t be tolerated and it does need to be reported, whether that’s by the victim who’s been abused or attacked, or a colleague who was present during the incident who can report it on their behalf.”

When asked if racist abuse of officers was an increasing problem, he said: “Unfortunately, the data suggests it is, and not just within Cleveland. Nationally, it is becoming more prevalent and involves a lot of repeat incidents.”

He said that Op Hampshire’s seven-point plan looked at areas including: “Is the investigation being conducted expeditiously? Have we ensured that the victim is not part of the investigation? Are we satisfied that the suitable welfare streams have been accessed, such as TRiM and counselling?”

Officers’ welfare was key, he said: “Within Cleveland Police, we have a victim forum, which includes our officers and staff who are subject to repeat incidents of abuse.

“We also make sure that a senior leader is notified of the offence and they can review the investigation to make sure everything's in order and that welfare has been addressed.”

Ch Insp Owens said that, across all forces in England and Wales, there was a reassuringly high level of 70% positive outcomes for offences against officers, adding: “But it should be high, because ultimately the evidence is there and presented by officers and colleagues themselves.”

He continued: “We also have very good ties with our colleagues in the North East Crown Prosecution Service, and our representative is very supportive. But of course outcomes in court are out of our control in many cases.”

He said the force carried out “a high level of scrutiny” with the CPS on cases where no charges were brought, and in some instances cases are reopened.

Ch Insp Owens said it was important that the force backs the Stop Racism Against Police campaign, because officers and police staff who suffer racist abuse are as much a victim of crime as a member of the public would be: “So the same service should be afforded to them, irrespective of them being an officer or a police civilian staff member. As a victim, they deserve justice where it's due.”

He hopes all Cleveland Police officers, regardless of their race and ethnicity, stand together against racism.

He said: “It shows that solidarity, but also we're ultimately here to represent the communities in which we serve, which have got quite a large demographic spread in terms of ethnicity and race.

“Here in Cleveland Police, we have a real commitment to our staff, and we need to show the public that these racially motivated attacks will not be tolerated.”